They had been expecting it, but everything still happened in a disorienting rush. It was like waking suddenly from a nightmare, every sound intensified and oppressive. It was the flickering lamplight, bouncing off the fabric walls of the tent. It was the gentle wind, an undercurrent susurrus against the grass and tent. The heavy weight of sturdy clothing, a cloak around their shoulders, thick gloves on their hands. And the intense look from a strange woman, her voice somehow both a natural tone, and loud enough to be deafening.

It was only when she spoke their name that Kasey remembered properly where they were- The game. The game Tally had given them. It all seemed so real... "I-" Kasey swallowed, and tried to look for- for something. Help. Tally. A literal hint. "Um, yes. I- I am." That wasn't very Silvermoon-like of them, was it? And- And that's what they were supposed to be doing now, wasn't it? They'd just started the game, and were already messing up...

They glanced up as the professor- Professor Ash- gestured, moving to sit across from her, rather stiffly and formally, back straight, hands resting on their knees. And Professor Ash called them on it with a wry smile- Was- Was that part of the coding too? Did she always say that, or-

Kasey couldn't think on it too long- It was giving them a headache. "Right- Um, ask away, ma'am."

Oh, this sure felt like an interrogation.

Kasey reached, absent-mindedly, fiddling with Silvermoon's hair- And they could feel it, though the gloves, feel the slight pull of it on their head. It even took a second for that to register as strange because no, actually, it wasn't their real hair. This was all just- a game. Right?

Kasey just had to... say something smart. Silvermoon wouldn't be sitting here, stressed. They'd know what cool thing to say. The only issue was that Kasey also had to figure out what cool thing that was. And that wasn't exactly Kasey's forte.

"Hm," They started instead, which was better than "uh" or "um." "I... If I couldn't have something like a phone," They gave a bit of a laugh, like how someone confident would do. "I would... make something that reminded me of my friends. That way, even if they weren't with my in person, they could be there in spirit."

They thought a bit more about the next question. "I want to say I'm optimistic, but I also want to say it depends on the day." Sometimes optimism was good, but... sometimes it only left them disappointed and hurt. How many days had they sworn to themselves, tomorrow will be better, only to be crushed when it wasn't? Maybe some pessimism would have been good in those times. "Ultimately, though... Optimistic, I think. We have to keep pushing for a better tomorrow, right?"

Silvermoon seemed... just like someone you could believe in. Where had they been ten years ago?

But... a catchphrase? Kasey faltered. They'd sort of hoped that, by the time they got to answering it, they'd... have divined a real answer to give. And nothing was there. "Um,". There was nothing. Their mind was completely blank. They were failing at the open ended question part of a video game. "Oh. Um. No, I.... I don't think so." They finished, lamely.

Professor Ash's response was somewhat mechanical, and Kasey instantly felt nauseous. They had done it. First person to have answered questions so badly they didn't get a pokemon, in the pokemon game. 'Congrats, you screwed this up,' and booted back to the menu. Or maybe, like some of those horror games Haru had mentioned, it simply wouldn't ever start up again. Or-

The professor was pulling out a pokeball, and- And she set it in Kasey's hands. Kasey just stared at it, a moment, disbelieving. It was heavier than it should have been, like it was more than just the hollow ball it purported to be. There was tape on the front, rough textured and written on in marker.

TORCHIC

Tally had shown them, in college, the two bent over a picnic table outside. Tally had a silver gameboy that flipped open, and Kasey watched the dim screen as Tally explained what was happening. He'd claimed over and over that this one was the best starter, hands down. Kasey had pointed at one of the others, the round one, and Tally had grudgingly conceded that it, too, was okay, he guessed.

"Thank you," Kasey got out, throat tight. They tightened their fingers over the pokeball, holding it safe. Maybe... maybe they would call, Tally, tonight. Once they were done.