Video/Action for New Bark

[the_pilgrim]

Um, h-hello? This thing’s a smart phone, right? I, uh...still use a flip phone... I mean, I lost mine, and this one’s totally different! Haha, yeah...

Um, anyway, I’m kinda...supposed to be in the hospital right now. Greg and I were supposed to stay the night for observation. B-But I just woke up in some crazy lady’s house! She said she was my mom, and she clearly wasn’t my mom, and then she threw me out the door! Now this cotton bird thing won’t leave me alone! It keeps trying to wipe my face too-! [He stops to bat a cotton wing away.] THERE’S NOTHING ON MY FACE!

[He takes a few deep breaths.]
L-Look, I just....I just had a really rough time and all, and I really just...wanna go home or at least back to the hospital? This thing says it’s broadcasting to a network...can anyone even hear me? Seriously, this is the weirdest phone...

Comments

[video]

[faintwaves]

Ummm...

[Oh. Looks like it's time for new people to stream in.]

Calm down?

[Yes, excellent, this is off to a good start.]

There's no way of going home yet, not by choice anyway. Whatever you need to know, you can...ask me? I can definitely hear you.

[video]

[the_pilgrim]

Calm down? Calm down?!

This is hardly the time to be calm! And what do you mean, there's no way of going home?!

[video]

[faintwaves]

It's just what I said, don't yell at me!

[Wow, that was assertive, good job Xion.]

And I'm telling you to be calm because if you're not, you'll skip over everything I'm saying and just freak out, like you are right now.

[video]

[the_pilgrim]

Okay then, what important stuff do you have to share with me? [Sorry, Xion, he's really not this much of an ass.]

[video]

[faintwaves]

Nothing with someone that's going to be a jerk, but just in case you decide to grow a better attitude, I'd tell you that we're all stuck here, but don't worry because nothing happens at home while you're gone.

Re: [video]

[the_pilgrim]

Psh, yeah, right. I don't believe you for a second. [Well, he just came from a similar situation...but really it's just the principle of the thing now.]

[video]

[faintwaves]

[UGH, BOYS.]

Oh sure, that's what's unbelievable, because waking up in a place you don't know with a person you don't know calling herself your mom is so normal.

You're just being a blockhead to be a blockhead now, Axel told me about people like you.

Look, I understand, it's weird waking up here the first time. It's weird getting the information from people acting like it's normal. It's crazy not knowing what's going on--especially when you just got out of something like, in my case, being dead--but yelling and acting like a blockhead isn't going to help anything or anyone, especially not you.

Re: [video]

[the_pilgrim]

I am not! [Yes, you are, Wirt. He seethes for a bit.]

Fine, whatever!

Re: [video]

[faintwaves]

Now.

Start over.

No more being a grouchy blockhead.

This is Johto, it's a region in a world where creatures called Pokemon exist. We're given these Pokemon as companions when we arrive, even if we don't come here voluntarily. That Swablu is going to be your partner and protector from other Pokemon as you travel through Johto. People do whatever they want with the whole Pokemon thing, even if we're told we're supposed to train and catch them, battling and stuff like that. You're given stuff to look at to give you the basic information about Pokemon, so I won't rattle on about that and get to the nitty gritty--yes, we're stuck, we can't leave. Sometimes we're sent back to our own worlds and nothing will have changed since we left. It's okay, this world is pretty safe, and if you had people back at home to worry about, it's okay too, they'll be fine--or they might end up here with you eventually.

Re: [video]

[the_pilgrim]

[Grumblegrumble.]

I have to make her fight other animals? That's cruel!

[video] sorry about that my account expired right as dw went nuts

[faintwaves]

Hmm...

[She never saw it as forcing the Pokemon to battle, they seemed to want to fight just as much in their nature. It was a good bonding experience, as well, to grow strong together.

But it's entirely possible that this boy (bad impressions aside) came from a world where fighting isn't usual.]

That's for her and you to decide. Like I said, not everyone decides to do the training thing, sometimes they just raise Pokemon and keep them like companions too. Nobody's...nobody's forcing anybody to do anything.

[video] no worries, it went freaky for me too >>

[the_pilgrim]

I mean, is there even a point to having them fight?

[video]

[faintwaves]

Not if you're very against competition or don't plan on traveling. You'd need for your Pokemon to be...strong to protect you against wild ones if you're traveling. No matter what your policy is, wild Pokemon attack humans.

[video]

[codeforhope]

I can hear you.

[Well, it's definitely clear that this person is having a hard time...so Chihiro is careful to keep his voice gentle; not like that's hard, though.]

And you can't go home right now, I'm afraid.

Re: [video]

[the_pilgrim]

Oh, thank gosh!

Wait, wait- why can't I go home?

[video]

[codeforhope]

Well...there isn't a way home. Not one that we can take on our own. People do go back home, sometimes, but when it happens is usually unpredictable.

[video]

[the_pilgrim]

What the heck? So we're in prison!? Someone kidnapped us!

[video]

[codeforhope]

No...not exactly. We don't really know why this happens, only that it does. I'm sorry I don't know more, or I would try to explain...

Re: [video]

[the_pilgrim]

That's okay...I mean you're a victim just as much as I am.

[video]

[codeforhope]

[Chihiro stiffens, glancing down for a moment. That choice of wording...]

It...it isn't so bad, being here. I like it a lot, personally. It is usually very safe, and most people living here are very friendly and helpful.

[video]

[the_pilgrim]

But what about our families? And...school? I can't afford to fall behind, I've just started my high school career!

[video]

[codeforhope]

You won't have to worry about that. When you go back home, it will be as if you never left.

Time back home will have stopped for you. It does for everyone.

Re: [video]

[the_pilgrim]

Oh...I see. [Something like that happened just recently.]

[video]

[codeforhope]

I would...try not to worry about it too much, though. As I said, it really isn't all that bad here. You might end up liking it, after a while.

Re: [video]

[the_pilgrim]

Liking it, huh? [He's not buying it.]