trusthell | Welcome.

Welcome.

You last remember feeling safe.

You don't know what caused that response, now that you think about it; you can't remember what you were doing before the warm, comfortable feeling came over you, a sensation somewhere between relief and the light contentment that comes with the knowledge that you're safe enough to sleep and god, are you ready to. It feels like you may have been sleeping for a while before this, even; your limbs are heavy in the memory, and you recall how difficult it was to open your eyes.

Turning your head is likewise difficult, it feels kind of like it's full of sand. Weighted-down by sleep. It's so much easier to remain still, and so you do, and before you haze out again you can vaguely hear a voice.

It's no one you recognize, and it sounds strange and vaguely distorted as you start to drift off again.

"Everything'll be fine."

There isn't an answer that you can hear; the voice speaks once more.

"...you ready?"

You don't remember what you wanted to say to that. Always, maybe. Or Ready for what? Or perhaps What's happened to me?

But none of it matters, because consciousness slips away from you too quickly for you to respond.

---

You wake up some time later; the comfortable, safe feeling from earlier certainly isn't dampened any by the bed you wake up in. Whether you like it soft as a cloud or firm enough to support the most finicky of spines, the bed you're in is nice, and it's pretty much exactly what you've been looking for in a mattress.

Shame the rest of the room is probably going to be a bit jarring when you wake up properly.

The room you're in is completely unfamiliar, all concrete and steel and almost nothing that makes it yours - but there's a trunk near the bed and there's what looks like a smartphone sitting on the trunk, and you might want to grab that before you leave the room. Trying to text or call out won't do anything for the time being, unfortunately, but it's something. A lifeline, maybe.

If you're looking to see if anyone is here with you, maybe you can find someone as you wander through the main corridor; after all, there are a few places to explore here, even if the bulk of the place is pretty much a straight shot down the center. If you're looking to gather, the dining hall is probably the best place for it, as it's large enough to accommodate all of you.

Wherever you choose to go, however, there are a set of rules posted in every room; the far wall of the dining hall, across from the entrances, also has a bulletin board with twenty-seven pictures, along with some...interesting information, posted on it. The board is large enough for all of you to look at it, but you might not want to try to get at anything posted there; just like the rules, there's glass in front of it, and it's looking to be extremely shatterproof.

Sorry about that.

There's one more thing you'll notice on your wanderings through the corridor – there are no windows, and there are no doors that can possibly lead outside.

Looks like you're trapped. Might as well get to know those that are here with you.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Bruce is getting very quickly acquainted with the library what with his many trips back and forth already. As such, he does happen to be in the area when he hears that frustrated comment - and a part of him does perk up a little.

Science, is, after all, something that can old be appreciated by others who shared that same appreciation.]

--sorry, were you looking for something?

[He asks politely as he approaches the other, doing his best to seem as welcoming as he could. He recognizes the face from the profiles, of course, but Bruce doesn't want to assume that everyone here has actually read it from top to bottom.]

[Colress looks away from the row he was inspecting with a smile prepared to greet whomever was addressing him.

He likewise recalls seeing the man's profile on the bulletin board.]

Well hello there! Mr. Banner, am I correct?

I was inspecting the selection available to us to see if I could learn anything from what is here. It's odd, really... There is nothing pertaining to science, but Poke as well.

[But by now, it's starting to sink in that Pokemon may not be present here.]

Ah--yes.

[He's still trying to get used to people recognizing him as such, even though he knows how they recognize him. He's just spent so many years hiding and not being known in general.]

I've been doing the same for a while, too. [He hums quietly.] So far, I haven't been able to really find anything that actually properly explains any sort of scientific laws or definitions.

[...what is this 'Poke', though.]

I wonder why that is? Certainly they can't pretend like it doesn't exist.

[With a chuckle,]

It seems like science isn't our captor's favorite subject. We've learned that much.

Or perhaps they don't want us to know.

[It could go either way, really. A bit far-fetched, but still totally plausible.]

About the scientific laws and theories of wherever we're being held? I suppose we can't rule it out...

[Do they vary that much from location to location though? Specific dissertations he could understand, but even the basics are missing.

Unless wherever they're at just decided to throw everything out the window. But that's just too weird to think about.]

[Thinking of the weird things is, fortunately, what Bruce can be good at, when he has reason to do so.

And this sure is one hell of a reason.]

Without any real basis to start there's really not much we can go from here. All we've got are numerous unproven hypothesis.

I suppose that's all the more enticing for us to prove or disprove them.

[He gives a light sigh.]

I must say, it's a bit overwhelming. And I can't say I get truly overwhelmed very often!

There is quite a lot to digest in the beginning.

[Now, though, not as much... for better or for worse.

Let's be real, its probably for the worse.]

Of a new project? Certainly. I'd say it's much more preferable under controlled circumstances though.

[This is like a project in a way, isn't it? Uncovering facts and information. That's what scientists like to do!

...Just not typically in a super-sleuth sort of way.]

[Well, can't exactly let something like that stop them right now, can they.]

We'll just have to make do with what we've got right now. We could try sorting out between what could potentially give us clues and what can be disregarded.

I would be happy to.

[Figuring they're going to make a good conversation out of this, Colress decides to take a seat wherever is available.]

Shall we start with what we've found here? Admittedly it's obviously not much, but- did you discover anything in the sections you've already perused?

[Bruce does the same as well after a moment - they're probably going to be here for a while, but its not like Bruce minds a lot. Discussions are always good in his book.]

Nothing much. The lack of nonfiction is notable, but I'm sure you must have noticed that by now as well.

Indeed I have. Nothing pertaining to history in addition to science. I believe they want things to be as nondescript as possible.

Did you happen to recognize any authors in the fiction titles? Notable authors specific to a certain region, things like that.

[Well...]

In a way--yes? Their names aren't entirely similar, but they have enough of a striking resemblance. [Though the contents of what they write are...

well

another thing entirely]

[Oh! Well, this is some progress! Colress leans in a bit, obviously interested.]

Really? How so?

Well, for example--

[Bruce reaches to take a random book, turning it around so that the other can see the spine, where the author and the title of the book is printed on it.]

Everything is close enough to have a striking resemblance to things I recognize, but altered in--different ways. Nothing too big in the grand scheme of things, though.

[He gives the spine a good look. The author means nothing to him, but he can understand where Bruce is coming from.]

In other words, it lists a famous author, but slightly changes the name, making it seem like an unsubtle disguise?

That's the long and short of it.

[It is incredibly unsubtle.]

Even that is a clue when you stop to consider it. Despite it being a cheap knockoff, it still implies that they at least have to be somewhat aware of the original author, doesn't it?

[The striking similarity can't be a complete coincidence, can it?]

[That is true... Bruce hadn't quite thought of it that way.]

That is something to consider. [A soft hum.] Though I suppose there are a lot of things to consider.

[...just with nothing to come out from it.]

We can just sort it into the pile of thoughts that we won't disregard for now. Progress is progress!

[It really is interesting though...Is this location closer to where Bruce is from, perhaps?]

[A nod.]

One into that pile, then.

[Progress indeed. Now what to bring up next...]

How about you? Did you find anything of note?

This doesn't apply to the library exactly- well, indirectly I suppose since nothing from my area seems to be present here...

[He neatly clasps his hands together as he considers his wording.]

The most alarming thing I have discovered is everyone's apparent lack of knowledge about Pokemon. While it is possible to not know very much about them, nearly everyone should at least know of them...

[He looks up at Bruce, waiting to see if he'll fall into the crowd of Pokemon-less people or not.]

[WELL...

Sorry, Colress, he's gonna disappoint you.]

...sorry, I think you'll have to put me with the rest of those people, too.

[He vaguely heard of it before? But he was always too busy studying and working to really play games.]

Library

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pretend I didn't accidentally delete the 'mon' in 'Pokemon' there omfg

ITS OKAY I THOUGHT IT WAS... AN ACTUAL THING... cry

HAHA oh gosh, I'm so sorry

its pokeeverything anyway WHY NOT POKESCIENCE

EXACTLY

ayyyyyy

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