victory_road | 1st Recipe [New Bark Town, Video/Action]

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1st Recipe [New Bark Town, Video/Action]

[Video]

[There are a lot of things you don't expect when you're Jane Crocker. You don't expect the entire world to shift scenes in the blink of an eye, floating in the ruins of a golden moon one second and waking up in what looks to be a normal, sunny bedroom the next. You don't expect some woman whom you've never seen before in your entire life to come in, claim to be your mother, shove a backpack into your arms and kick you out of the house with vague directions to a - a laboratory? And you certainly don't expect to be given what you're darn tootin' sure is a Pokeball once you get there, and as soon as you go, are again booted out towards the only dirt road outta town: Route 29.

So forgive her if she spent the last night in town, pounding on the door of her "mother"'s house and demanding to be let back in and given an explanation. When her video comes on this morning, it shows a very tired, bespectacled teenage girl with prominent buck teeth looking about 110% done with everything around her.]

...Okay, it's on. I think. [She squints, as if looking for something on the Pokegear to in fact indicate it is on, before continuing.] Um...hello? I'm basically going on a hunch that this...weird thing can be used as a communicator of sorts. Almost like FaceTime on a smartphone, right? I-I really hope so, or else I'm making calls into the goshdarned aether. [She sighs, shaking her head.] Anyway. If someone out there knows exactly how someone can wake up in what should very well be a video game that isn't supposed to suck you into a virtual reality, and if there's a way for me to leave, I'd greatly appreciate it. I...was sort of in the middle of something. [A look of hesitance crosses her face, as if...she may be asking to go back, but she sure as fuck doesn't want to at the moment.] I'll be in this...New Bark Town place for a little longer, if you need to know where I am.

- Oh, and, one more thing? [The video blurs as it shifts to a very pink creature that's quietly munching on some trail mix by Jane's side.] Not that she isn't cute, but, um...is this really a Pokemon?

[Action]

[True to her word, Jane lingers in town for the day. The pink Pokemon - Audino, her Pokedex has explained - seems happy to sit nearby and play with the hood on her unusual attire. This seems to be proving endearing enough to get Jane to smile despite herself, but given how warily she looks at the natives, it seems she'd do well with some sort of human conversation that doesn't tend to repeat itself.]

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Holy shit, Jane.

[ Not his best greeting, by far. But he's so massively relieved to see her. There she is. Jane Crocker, prankster extraordinaire, master of the kitchen and best friend after three months of unfamiliarity in a Pokemon game. There is absolutely no backtracking that half-laughed out 'Holy Shit' or that he has an unrestrained smile on his face that's taking its time fading back into that defaulted stoicism. He is so happy to see her. Everyone else is great but this is someone from his group. He probably owes her some sort of life debt for being able to put his head on straight and putting up with everyone's bullshit. The least he could do is make Pokemon easier for her.

The location was useful. He's already running routes through his head. What's the quickest way over there? Dave has a teleporting Pokemon but he isn't sure of the range. The centers have transportalizers but she would still have to go to Cherrygrove...]

Be glad you showed up your taupe god attire because "Mom" didn't pack pajamas.

[The last thing Jane was expecting was to hear a familiar voice or see a familiar face on this thing. Sure, technically her teen Poppop was totally familiar, but at the same time he wasn't, you know? He was a stuffed cadaver for as long as she could remember. Dirk is someone she knows. Dirk is a dear friend. Dirk was just talking with her through text as Prospit and Derse's moons started to shake and rumble.]

D...Dirk?!

[The question of pajamas can be talked about later. Right now it's friend time.]

Is...that's really you?!

[ He knows that feeling. They're strangers in familiar packaging. Great strangers (see for reference: Dave Strider and the never-ending exceeded expectations) but still distant in a way people you just met are and take time to get to know. Jane is an established connection years in the making. ]

It's really me. [ And not a hallucination, ditto or some fucked up creation of his using a hologram. He pauses, briefly. What if she's like the others? Distant in a different context that hurts to think about. He won't confirm that now. Friend time is now. He has to figure out how to get over there ASAP. ]

You okay? It's fucking disorienting, I know.

Edited 2016-07-19 02:33 (UTC)

[Don't even get started on timelines. Don't even - she can't process that right now. This place is too strange, too cheerful and lively to bring the shithive maggots insanity that was Sburb into the mix, even if it was still another fucking video game. She breathes out a sigh of relief at his confirmation, and the Audino by her side becomes very, very curious as to who made her human act that way. So even though Dirk can clearly hear Jane, he's getting a face full of pink Pokemon.]

I'm...alive, and not hurt? If that's what you mean by alright. But besides that, I'm tired and frustrated as all get out. Are you, um, close by this New Bark place?

[ Dirk is talking to Jane but that sure is a lot of pink blocking the view and interrupting his careful assessment of Jane's current well-being. ] Oh. Hey. [ He raises a hand in a really brief awkward wave. 'Sup, Audino? ]

That is what I mean. The frustrated and tired part seemed like a given. And I'm not close but there might be possible short cut to exploit. Working on it. [ Three days for her to get to Cherrygrove. He needs to start backtracking. Calculating... ]

In the meantime, if you have any questions, I believe I can fill you in on some things.

Edited 2016-07-19 03:17 (UTC)

- Ah!

[The video tilts, and you can just see Jane leaning around the Audino before it scoots further over.]

Excuse me, dear, if you wouldn't mind, that's a friend that I'd-

Au-di-no...

[Forgive her for the shaky cam for a couple seconds, the muffled disagreements between Jane and the very pink creature, before they finally settle on something - Jane has an arm around the Audino's shoulders, and she holds the Pokegear out so the both of them can be in the picture.]

Sorry. She's...quite a willful thing, I've noticed. Likes to be included. [The Audino nods in agreement, beaming.] Is it out of your way to come all the way back here? I don't want to be a bother, even with shortcuts...

[Confirm if it's really alright that you're coming back all this way, and then she'll ask questions.]

[ Dirk's patient during the seconds it takes Jane to work out a compromise with her Pokemon. He let's out a little "Heh" at Jane settling it at an angle for them both. It's cute. Pokemon are fucking adorable sometimes.

It was enough time for his own pink starter, a Mime Jr, to wander back over with a flower and hop in view and wave excitedly at the guests ] Mi! [ Dirk pushes her out of frame gently ]

That's fine. It sounds familiar. [ Pink wiggly Mime hand creeping into frame and patting him on the cheek. He cocks his head to the side to get away from it. Zero change of expression. This is an everyday thing. Anne no. ]

It's completely out of the way. So? [ It's stated like a challenge. He is coming to get you, Jane. Just try and tell him he shouldn't. She's going to be part of this highly dysfunctional group. Or their own group because if Jane's there they can occasionally go off on their own and let his brother, Karkat, and her teenage children/grandparents do whatever it is they do. Platonic date each other?

He's almost positive can manage to get to her fairly quickly if he asks Dave for some help on this one but he's still considering all his options. Outright asking for help is registering like some sort of failure if he doesn't run through every potential method first. ]

[Too late, Jane's caught sight of your little friend, Dirk, and it makes her smile. Out of all the Pokemon that could exist, she didn't think a spritely little clown thing would end up following Dirk around, but it's incredibly adorable. And it got him a flower! Awwwww.

Audino waves into the camera at the Mime Jr. Hello fellow Pokemon!]

That must be a trait of the pink ones, then! Gregarious willfulness.

[She frowns slightly at that new fact. He must be backtracking quite a ways for her. But is that a challenge, Mister Strider?]

I mean...I'd rather not go around with just my new friend here, even if that's the point of this type of game. I do want to see you! It's just a shame for you to have to make such a huge effort just for me. I can see how far I can get on my own, so the trip isn't too long for you?

[ This would look a lot worse if he was dressed in his Prince of Heart gear like he was upon arrival. He's so glad everyone communicated with him through text that first day. So much pink. Jane would have laughed. He would be mortified. ]

A trying trait on those who have the pleasure of their company.

[ He loves this stupid tiny clown thing so fucking much. She keeps peeking into the frame until it's decided climbing on her trainer and draping over his left shoulder gives her the best view of what he's looking at and access to his front pocket. That's where the flower is going. ]

It's not a big deal, Jane. I'm sure the rest of the group would come with if I asked them to. [ But he won't. He'll try it himself first because that would bother them and that might slow down the progress of getting to Jane. ]

I get the feeling you might start walking if I tell you to stay put. Cherrygrove is a three-day hike. That's your nearest city if you're going to try this out for yourself. You don't have to and probably shouldn't considering you already gave away some of your food source but it's basically baby's first nature walk over there.

Gosh, don't say that! Now you have me worried.

[Honey you don't even know half of what this Audino may get you into. No, you don't. The dear thing claps, by the way, at Anne's accomplishment, nodding and smiling in approval. There don't happen to be flowers in the immediate area, but the Mime Jr.'s given her an idea for the future.]

Well...if you're sure. I know you're not exactly swayable when you set your mind to something. Just let me know how you're doing in the meantime so I don't fret.

[Of course she would, you can't tell her to stay in one place - that's a decision only Jane Crocker makes for herself, as shitty as the results tend to be.] Three days...that sounds like a walk and half. And you're farther out than that? How exactly do you plan to get to me? And, what else am I supposed to feed her? This and a lunchbox is all the food I have, and she was hungry.

[The Audino nods!] Dino audi!

Be worried. There's going to be shenanigans, Jane.

[ So many shenanigans. Pokemon are ridiculous. It's kind of amazing. But they're all good shenanigans. Anne is nodding and smiling back at Audino. Thank you, thank you. ]

I'll give you daily updates. How about that? [ More to check in on her than check in with her.

Neither of them are swayable, it seems. Determined and stubborn as hell in combination. Jane's going to make this a little easier, he thinks. She'll definitely make it to the nearest city without a problem, even if he's currently acting like she just ruined her trip by losing the trail mix. That's not a big deal at all. ]

Don't worry about how. I've got it under control. [ Sort of. There's a pretty solid plan. Maybe. It doesn't involve cutting off his head so it's better than his last plan to get to meet up together, at least. ]

You're supposed to feed her by utilizing nature. That's a typical survival skill.

Edited 2016-07-21 11:16 (UTC)

Oh, geez. The non-lethal, happy kind I hope.

[Please can there be happy shenanigans and not. Awful, stupid shenanigans? Please?]

Daily updates sound like a doable plan. I'll see if I can get anything else regarding rations from anywhere here, and then I'll set off on the "training trail". And I'm definitely going to worry about it until you tell me how you're getting here!

[Dirk this is the girl who had been repeatedly grounded from experiencing nature due to assassins, it's likely she doesn't know much about doing that. But...] You know, I think I have some kind of guidebook in my backpack. That should have a few notes on things that would be safe for her to eat, right? Since it's mostly nuts, I thought the trail mix would be fine, but I don't want to go around picking things that will make her sick.

No one has died while playing Pokemon here, as far as I'm aware.

[ Yet. And being dead before you get here doesn't count as lethal shenanigans ]

Good. I'll tell you when I'm en route. It's malleable until I'm executing the plan because it relies on one or two factors I can't check from here.

[ Jane's the least qualified to survive in the wild out of their original group of four. She needs training. But she's not a failure and smart enough to figure it all out, he thinks. ]

It has an entire second on what to feed them, yes. There's this thing with the berries that should be particularly noteworthy in the guidebook. Do not eat those yourself without consulting it. You'll get sick.

A man did mention that if you do die, you just wake up all fine and dandy in a Pokemon Center. It's a little weird, but it's not like I'm eager to test it out and see if I end up paying for it in the process.

[Yeah no. Fuck dying. Dying was never cool in the first place. She looks curious enough about these factors Dirk mentions, but she'll bite her tongue on that for now at the mention of berries.]

Sick? Are they poisonous to humans? I'm aware that certain things that could be bad for one species is perfectly fine for another, I know that's a thing, but...

[Exactly, see, look. She's asking questions, she wants to learn about this Bear Grylls shit.]

What man told you that? The bit of information about not dying didn't make it to me. I know if you've died prior to arrival, you're no longer a ghost here, so I suppose it makes some sort of logical sense that there's an minor immortality clause in play. This is a children's game, after all.

[ Yeah. He's going to pass on the dying too if he can. Fingers crossed. Four times is more than enough for him. Filled the dying quota. ]

Depends on which one it is. Most of them just disagree with you and taste like shit.

Someone else on here. He was definitely an adult, blond, said he'd been here for four years. The name escapes me at the moment...

[Or they just haven't introduced themselves as of yet, but shh.]

Eugh. I'll keep them far away from my mouth, then. I don't want to do through anything like that, no matter how desperately hungry I am.

Four years of Pokemon. Christ.

[ What does someone have to be doing to get killed in Pokemon? He's making a mental note to ask if he runs into this guy. ]

You might have to if you run out of everything else.

I wonder if it hits a certain point where you have the option to turn all this music off.

[Aeyup, she noticed that.]

I'll make it work.

I hope so. It would be a nice option. It's not as irritating as you would think though. You get used to it after a while and it changes depending on your location.

[ Anne hums along and sways to the background music. She's doing it right now. ]

Yes, you will. ...Did our session predecessors come bother you yet? Roxy's mom is the only one missing.

[God that's so freaking cute.]

If you mean my teen Poppop, yes, he has. So your teen "bro" and Jake's teen Grandma are here as well, then...[She shakes her head.] So bizarre! I never imagined that this would be where I'd finally meet him.

You haven't met them before?

[ Oh no. He doesn't look it but he feels like his insides just sank into a pit. He goes still and blank. They're not on the same time. Okay. That's... he hasn't been on the same time as anyone since he got here. He wasn't expecting her to be synchronized with him. Not really. He doesn't know why this feels like such a shock. Maybe he got too hopeful?

He should really leave the hope stuff to Jake. ]

Edited 2016-07-23 23:25 (UTC)

No, not at all. We'd just gone God Tier, and then I blink, and suddenly I'm here.

[Jane notices the stillness, but...isn't sure what to make of it. Obviously we should just plow on through our conversation.]

You know, John...oh gosh, it's weird to just call him by his first name, but! John did mention something about timeline shenanigans when I spoke to him. It doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me, I mean...none of us were Time players, so...why would that even be a thing?

[ Dirk simply nods once at the answer. Her not knowing she was brainwashed is good. For now. It might come up eventually because he has no control over what the rest of the group says to her. There's nothing he can do about it now. ]

Dave's a time player. And John had been able to do something. I'm not sure. The intricacies of time-related shenanigans elude me. Pokemon could care less about logic, in any case. You can't even teach a bird "fly" without beating a Gym.

[Dirk, it's your lucky day, because Jane's attention has been diverted. By what, you may ask?]

A...bird can't learn to fly? But, don't they already...fly around, and...you know, use their wings and move to different places? If they have wings that work, birds aren't exactly known for their great running speeds.

[ His Pokemon wasn't distracted. She went from humming to petting the side of his head and then tugging on a cheek like she could force him to smile. There, there. Dirk swats at her. ] Stop it. [ She drops her hands. ]

They fly still but they don't know fly. Like I said, logic isn't Pokemon's forte. The thing with literal swords for hands can't cut a bush in half the same way.

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