001 ▲ Video

[fony]

[Hello Pokéworld, this is one of those new arrivals that isn't all that good with technology and doesn't have much of a clue what he's doing. He's figured out after much trial, error, and near-drops how to record a video. Or at least where the record button is and vaguely what it does.

The video comes on to show his face and what looks like tree branches behind him--he's holding the Gear at nearly arm's length--as well as some pink fluff that is the top of the Igglybuff in his lap's head.]

Hey, this is turned on, right? If anyone's getting this, tell me so I don't have to talk to the local wildlife all evening.

I also wanna know if there's a shortcut to the next town...Cherry-something?...three days is a pain to walk, and it's stupid cold out here.

[He's sitting inside the sleeping bag and also wearing a jacket that was in his backpack, but even combined they're not really good for the weather.]

...And I'm not sure exactly what I'm supposed to be doing with these...monsters. I read that I'm supposed to battle with them, but I took out the bird with a rock myself and the balloon doesn't do anything but sing and try to nest in my hair. So...they're pretty useless, and I hope I don't die out here because all I have is a balloon and a bird to protect me.

[There's a noise off-screen and he jerks slightly before looking around for the source.]

...The hell was that?

Comments

[video]

[walkersystem]

You threw a rock at a bird?

_{[She sounds torn between judgmental and impressed, but leaning on the former. She feels you though, Luke - she too is kind of huddled up, probably not that far away honestly, hugging a Natu close to her chest and shivering slightly.]}

... did you just wake up in that place too?

[video]

[fony]

Uhh...yeah?

[Don't judge him, he needed to protect the Igglybuff, and beaning the other Pokémon was the first thing that popped into his head.

And if they're near one another, they should probably find each other so they can share warmth.]

Yeah, I woke up in...some woman's house. She tried to tell me she was my mother.

[video]

[walkersystem]

<sub>[That might be a good idea. And it'd help with the alone-in-a-strange-place-thing.]

[Not that Molly's thinking about that at the moment, she's busy with a double-take and hugging her bird closer.]</sub>

She told you that too?

Someone told me they think she's been brainwashed.

_{[She's not exactly sure what that means but it sounds bad.]}

[video]

[fony]

You had to deal with her too? She probably was messed with, then. I dunno why someone would want her to think a couple of kidnapped people were her kids.

[She didn't even say anything about where they were or why they were there in the first place. Such a rude mom.

He's noticed her behavior and peers closer at the Gear's screen.]

...You okay?

[video]

[walkersystem]

If she's hurt, we should help her.

<sub>[She says, feeling a little guilty about having basically run out of there. But there's not a lot to do right now, en route, crosslegged in a sleeping bag.]

[Frowning a little at the question, Molly takes a second to answer, but settles for a shrug.]</sub>

I don't like being kidnapped. But everybody's acting like it's no big deal.

[video]

[fony]

Nah, she seems fine to me. Besides, if she kicked us out of her house in the first place, she probably doesn't want the help.

[That's not how brainwashing works, Luke.]

Uh...well, it's not like we're stuck anywhere or tied up or anything...

[video]

[walkersystem]

Yes we are! We're stuck here.

_{[That's just as bad as being tied up. And Molly looks like she can't be swayed on this point.]}

[video]

[fony]

That's not what I mean! I mean we can walk around and stuff! And there has to be a way out of here.

Wherever 'here' is.

[video]

[walkersystem]

That doesn't matter if you're trapped.

_{[Darkly. Her Natu chirps cautiously.]}

Everybody's saying there isn't one, but that can't be true.

[video]

[fony]

Well...

[That's hard to argue with.]

There's got to be a way back home from here. We probably just have to find whoever brought us here in the first place.

...If it's not 'Mother', anyway.

[video]

[walkersystem]

I don't like her.

_{[Said with the stubborn decisiveness children often have. Except yeah, there's still something troubled about Molly's approach when it comes to "mom".]}

Nobody else thinks it's her, anyway. Nobody that I talked to. Someone said a giraffe is doing it.

[video]

[fony]

A giraffe? What's that?

[video]

[walkersystem]

_{[u m]}

It's this big animal that eats leaves from trees, so it has a really long neck.

You don't know what a giraffe is?

Re: [video]

[fony]

I wouldn't be asking if I knew what one was.

I don't think I've ever seen something like that.

[There's probably a monster that resembles a giraffe, but he couldn't name it.]

[video]

[walkersystem]

They live in Africa.

_{[Just let the girl educate you, Luke, it's okay.]}

[video]

[fony]

Where's Africa?

[Sorry Molly, he's not from Earth.]

[video]

[walkersystem]

It's ... across the ocean.

_{[She's kind of seeing how that won't go anywhere, but.]}

Where are you from?

[video]

[fony]

You mean Aberria?

[That sounds sort of like 'Africa'.]

I'm from Baticul. Where are YOU from?

[video]

[walkersystem]

No, I mean Africa.

_{[Gosh, pay attention.]}

I'm from California. You know, in America? I've never heard of Baticul before.

[video]

[fony]

I've never heard of California. Is that in Kimlasca or Malkuth?

[No, YOU pay attention.]

[video]

[walkersystem]

It's in America. I just told you.

_{[Luke's the one being the most difficult here, okay?]}

Re: [video]

[fony]

[This is 100% true.]

Mrngh...this is stupid. How about we just...assume neither of us have been to wherever the other one lives and leave it at that?

[video]

[walkersystem]

Okay.

_[SHRUG.]

Hey, are you on the way to that Cherry place, too?

[video]

[fony]

[Good, that issue's been solved.]

Um...yeah, I'm about halfway there. You're heading that way too?

[He's looking now to see if he can see her from his tree vantage point.]

[video]

[walkersystem]

_{[She nods.]}

I didn't want to take the boat ... it'd cost a lot of money and I don't have much.

_{[Frowning slightly, she tilts her head.]}

Maybe I could find you.