I'll think about it! Have you ever worked on scientific studies? I know I could probably just get my Pokédex upgraded, but I just got my old model back, and it's -- well, it might be too old to take the upgrade. It depends what the year is here.

[Like that's a normal thing to say. She does seem to have a Pokédex attached to her bag, and... how old is this thing? Was it a hand-me-down or something?]

Plus there's the possibility it might overwrite the data to something more current, and while that's normally a good thing, I'd kind of like what I've got preserved just in case.

Oh! Yeah, I just got one! [She digs out a plain-looking phone with a few stickers haphazardly slapped onto a default case.] Cell phones weren't really common back when I was travelling. [Another weird thing out of someone who looks 14, but what doesn't she say that's weird?] And when I was staying in Goldenrod the past year, when I needed to call someone, I'd just borrow the landline at the gym. But it seems like everybody's using them here, and if you can't just stay in one place, why not?

I was 11, but... okay, let's see. Technically I only spent three years travelling after that, and then time... gets significantly hard to explain or keep straight. It's a long story! I was out in the world -- various, actually -- a few times for different things, some tournaments... then that omni-randomizer, name tentative, that happened, so we all had to try and go in to stop it, but things got a little complicated, but anyway, that's why I spent about a year in Goldenrod recently staying with family. But I don't exactly know where to put that on a chronological map, to be honest with you. Can we just say "the void?"

I mean, I don't see why not? We've got things in there, sometimes we even take people in there, or at least AJ's boyfriend hangs around with us. I know it's a little complicated. But it's not like I could hide it, since my team and I are a little scrambled, and no one here's even heard of a Randomizer.

I see! [She waves off the concern and keeps walking.] Don't worry, I'm fine. I suppose I shouldn't paint such a big region with the same brush. I'm from Kanto, and that's fairly condensed in comparison.

No, it's fine! I just have a few residual aftereffects of -- wait, that sounds concerning when I say it. But I'm okay! I just run into things a lot.

[They come up to the soba stand and Alice stops at one of the outdoor tables.]

Tell me what you want to order! I'll handle it.

Sure! One moment.

[She walks over and makes an order, then sits down on the other end of the table.]

I suppose I do tend to trail off. But in all fairness, people get confused when I try to explain everything, and also I'd just get distracted by explaining other things, and nothing would ever get done. But I can explain whatever you're confused about! Just ask me anything.

Okay, well... you might not believe this, but that last one is residual Voice brain. It's been a long time since I was a host, but sometimes a few things start to crop up.

[And after a pause to confirm that he doesn't know what the Voices are, she'll give him the same explanation she gave Manzana. They're an eldritch legion that possess and puppet a host for a journey, they usually set out to accomplish some goal, and in return, they'll make the host Champion before leaving them and returning to what she calls "the stream."]

I became a host... when I was 11. Before I contracted with the Dome.

It is a lot. I haven't even gotten to what happened during... and after. But that's why I walk into walls and things sometimes. You get a little scrambled after you're done.

Most of us have been living in the void afterwards. Most of the time, anyway. Until something pulled us all out almost two years ago now.