|1| [Video/Action for near New Bark Town]

[wing_attack]

[There's a... very uncertain-looking young man peering into the camera. He's really not sure what to make of any of this. It's a little hard to believe that he's like this, and he can't morph, and that there are Pokemon.]

[... He's trying to keep it together.]

So... uh.

[Great start, Tobias.]

I guess... I'm stuck here? No one in town really had anything useful to say. None of this makes much sense. And I'm guessing asking how to get home isn't going to get me any real answers, either.

[There's a squawk off-camera, and he looks concerned for a minute.]

I'm guessing the first step is to head to the next town, right? And start building up a team...

[... Why did he make this broadcast anyway?]

... If anyone's got any advice for that kind of thing, feel free to give it.

[He clicks the broadcast off.]

[Action]

[He's not in New Bark Town anymore. He's nearby, but he's sitting in a small area free of tall grass, staring down his Pokemon. What's a Rufflet, anyway? ... At least the body language is familiar. He holds out his hand, waiting for the little Pokemon to approach.]

[... This might take a while.]

Comments

[wing_attack]

True, though I've never seen a bird like this one.

[A bird that is currently trying to puff up and look fierce! ... Unsuccessfully.]

[bookslap]

{She chuckles.}

I think I'm meant to be intimidated by that display - I fear it's having the opposite effect.

[wing_attack]

Yeah. He'll... learn, probably.

[Just... pets for you, Rufflet. Pets for you.]

[bookslap]

Mm. Most do, with time.

{Nanao sits there for a moment, idly turning her Yamask's ball over in her hands.}

Ah... I have to say that I had an ulterior motive for coming to talk to you. {that didn't sound creepy at all}

[wing_attack]

[He tenses up, and Rufflet tries to puff up again. He looks less like an intimidating animal and more like a very fluffy ball.]

... Yeah?

[bookslap]

{Nanao can't help but smile at the fluffball, but it only lasts for a moment before she pushes up her glasses and assumes a rather serious look.}

In the world that I came from, I had... what one might call supernatural abilities. Upon waking up here, I found that I no longer am able to access those abilities.

{Deep breaths, Nanao.}

What I am trying to ask is this: did you, too, lose any abilities you had before?

[wing_attack]

[He keeps his expression as flat as he can, looking up at her.]

That's kind of... nuts. Why would you think that I had something like that?

[bookslap]

{Welp, now she's embarrassed. Nanao looks away, tucking her hair back behind her ear.}

Just a vague hope that someone else was feeling as lost as I was, I suppose.

My apologies for the intrusion.

[wing_attack]

... It's fine.

[No one can know. He can't explain. How could he explain? It wouldn't make sense to anyone else, and it's dangerous.]

[bookslap]

{She's technically dead, and there's an actual werewolf as a Captain in Soul Society.}

...any idea on what you're going to name your small ball of fluff?

[wing_attack]

[But Yeerks.]

I don't know yet. I don't want to give him a name that doesn't fit.

[bookslap]

{You've got a darn good point there.}

A wise move. I've heard that some pokemon even change their forms, so I'm unsure as to whether to wait for that to happen, or take my chances now...

[wing_attack]

They do. I think there might be some information in the Pokedex in our Pokegears.

[Everything is Poke deal with it.]

[bookslap]

I suppose I'll have to spend a little more time examining it. It's not a piece of technology I'm overly familiar with.

{She comes from a world where paper and ink are still king.}

[wing_attack]

I'm not really familiar with it either. It just looks like a really advanced phone.

[bookslap]

{Nanao pulls hers out, turning it over in her hands.}

It's nice that it's got an option for video calls. {It's got an option for everything, bar the kitchen sink.}

[wing_attack]

It is. I'm not the best at technology, though I have a friend who is.

[Though Andalites are more advanced in general so Ax cheats.]

[bookslap]

...is your friend here? {probably not buuuuut there's no harm in asking. maybe.}

[wing_attack]

No. Not that I've seen, at least.

[bookslap]

That's a shame. {She says it softly.} It's not a kind thing to be alone.

[wing_attack]

... I'm used to it. It's okay, really.

[bookslap]

{w o w okay, that pushed a few buttons in her.}

You-- {INHALE, exhale. Pardon her voice for sounding a little strangled.}

You shouldn't have to be used to it. No one should.

[wing_attack]

[He shrugs.]

Some people are just loners.

[bookslap]

That may be... but it's still not a kind state.

{She looks down, brushes a stray blade of grass from her pants. Perhaps it's time for her to make an exit.}

Well, Tobias. It was nice to have met you.

[wing_attack]

... Good to meet you too.

[Sort of.]