11th Zapfish [Video, Olivine City]

[agent3]

[By now, Thida has enough sense to pick up on when weird things are happening in Johto and Kanto, just from the posts to the network that other people make. This time, it's about sleep, and dreams, and it's done more than just leave her waking up with an opressive, cloying loneliness in her heart. Most people seem relatively cranky or spooked. There's ghosts and weird yellow snout-creatures stalking them at night. It's not like last October with the funny little costume ghosts, it feels...heavy. Sad. Creepy.

So when she clicks the feed on her 'gear this evening, she doesn't start with that. Instead, she starts with a thoughtful, quiet moment, looking into the camera with her face pinched in concentration as she sits cross-legged on the couch in the Olivine Pokemon Center. Poko the Tepig is asleep in her lap, snuffling into her stomach, his one bent ear twitching. There's an Everstone on a length of twine around his neck that Thida finds herself fiddling with as she's thinking.]

...'Nybody else...usually livin' alone?

[Her words are still the choppy, direct kind that she usually speaks, but her voice is a lot softer, almost hesitant.]

Been livin' alone since...before comin' here. So. Um. Prob'ly...over a year. I think. [It gets hazy with the time of year she remembers it being back home, and the seasons that have passed in this new world.] Don't mind to. But...'s hard. Not makin' money or whatever...but...bein' alone. All th'time. Even with Pokemon. [Because she loves these creatures wholeheartedly - but it's not the same.] 'N...there's nobody at home for me. 'N if I go, these guys're left here...'n...

[There's a pause. Thida squeezes her eyes shut, a small glint of tears at their corners, but she takes a deep breath and wills them back.]

C-Can't...dunno if I can keep doin' it...if I go back, livin' alone...'m scared. 'M scared.

[She takes in one more breath, opens her mouth, then closes it, reaching out to turn off her 'gear. Nope, this is starting to get far too raw and real for her at the moment, these are not feelings she wants to deal with all at once. But is she okay? Maybe these dreams, even if they're not remembered, are hitting some people harder than others.]

Comments

Video

[anexcitableboy]

Yeah, I been on my own for a while now. It ain't too fun. 'specially at night. I'm a grown guy and I leave a light on half the time.

I still got an open room here at my place in Goldenrod. I know we don't know each other real well or nothing, but...if ya don't wanna be on your own, even for a little bit, I don't mind.

[Video]

[agent3]

...I 'member.

[She's somewhat red-faced now, embarrassed as she realized just how much she'd said.]

Wanna get th'badge here, but. Th'lady's got th'metal Pokemon? 'N Fire's good for that. Poko's not strong 'nough, though...

[Video]

[anexcitableboy]

Well that's okay! That badge ain't going anywhere. You can take time, train up your Pokemon, then go back to it.

[Video]

[agent3]

Yeah. I know.

[She lets out a soft breath and scritches Poko behind his bent ear some more. He snorts, but doesn't wake up.]

...Like seein' a new place, though.

[Video]

[anexcitableboy]

I bet there's places you been that got plenty of places you ain't seen yet! I'm still finding new stuff around Goldenrod every day!

[Video]

[agent3]

Mm...'s true. Still gotta climb th'Radio Tower.

[As in...physically climb the outside of the Radio Tower. Thida, no.]

video;

[pipers_son]

....Yer always welcome here, if ya want.

I mean, we'd ask ya ta help around a little, sometimes, when yer about, but it wouldn't be much. Most of the Pokemon help with that anyway.

[Video]

[agent3]

...Mmm.

[She hadn't really said anything to try and find someone to live with - that wasn't her intent, but she's realizing pretty quickly that her phrasing had...implied as much. Thida's slightly red-faced when she answers, her eyes still a bit wet.]

Mmmmm...[Okay yep, she's ducking down to press her face into her Tepig. She embarrassed.] Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm...

[pipers_son]

[Okay, he can't help it- Joker bursts out laughing at the adorable reaction.]

Oh, pet, ya don't have ta answer right away!

[agent3]

[asdfghjkl

Her response is muffled by sleepy pig friend.]

Didn't mean t'cause trouble...

[pipers_son]

[Another laugh, but at least it's friendly.]

It wouldn't be a trouble at all! I mean, I'd be the one benefitin' if ya helped out, right?

[agent3]

Mm...guess so...

[She'd meant in a broader sense, making all these people worried and whatnot, but he's got a point.]

[video]

[charcoalfeather]

[Rakka rubs incessantly at her eyes. They're tired, she's tired. And right now, she can feel this poor girl's problems in her very soul.]

Mm... No, I've been living in a home with a few other people for a long time now. I... actually, can't think of living here any other way. Even before all of this, that was how it was.

[...] We, umm, have a few rooms open at the house. A few people that used to live with us went home, so...

[Video]

[agent3]

...Lotta people sayin' I can stay. But. Thanks.

[Though the sentiment is appreciated, lbr it'd be awkward for two characters I play to live in the same house Thida is still a bit bowled over at how many people have offered her a home because of this. That wasn't what she intended at all...]

Y'never had...everyone go 'way?

[video; private because this is Heavy and like hell is he gonna talk about it in public]

[meteorman]

[WELL HECK

Ford doesn't talk to Thida often, but every time he has he's enjoyed it. She's weird and he likes weird, and more than that she's inquisitive and thoughtful in a very unique way. Like Ford Pines tends to do, he's managed to project a little, and maybe that's why this hits him very close to his heart.]

I saw your post, earlier.

Thida, it is difficult to be alone. But I think far more frightening is the possibility of reaching the point where it isn't. You may one day feel like everything would be easier if you only stopped caring about other people, because then the possibility of losing them poses no danger. I can tell you from experience nothing could be worse.

[Private Video] oh boy

[agent3]

[No, they hadn't spoken in a while, had they? But Thida liked Ford. He always had answers to things she didn't really understand, and would explain them to her, which was really the most important thing, in her opinion. It's been a little while since she made her video, so she's not nearly as teary-eyed as she was before when she responds, but she is still significantly small and gloomy-looking.]

...'S bad t'be used to it?

[She considers that for a moment, frowning slightly.]

Never...used t'think about it. Was always busy. Easier t'be busy.

[permaprivate, permavid]

[meteorman]

Yes. Yes, that's what I thought too.

[His tone is heavy.]

And I spent thirty years a bitter and unhappy man because of it.

[permaprivate, permavid]

[agent3]

...

[She sort of shifts down, pulling Poko up to her face and resting her chin on his sleeping form.]?

'S not easy, though...makin' friends at home. Dunno why, but...I can't...friend people.

[meteorman]

[He nods. If he wasn't projecting before he sure is now, in that way only Ford Pines really can.]

Neither could I, especially when I was your age. Even now it... isn't easy. But that doesn't mean that it's impossible.

[agent3]

Mm. Yeah...'s easier here. People...talk t'you, 'n stuff. Doesn't matter what y'look like or where you're from. [She shakes her head.] Never mattered t'me...dunno why t'other people it matters.

[Video]

[thenightsky]

Hey Thida...

[Noctis can't even imagine what she must be going through right now. The nightmares are bad enough when you're with other people but to be alone and dealing with them..

The prince rubs at the back of his neck, clearly exhausted but he really has no desire to sleep right now.

He doesn't want to face those dreams again.]

Are you still in Olivine?

[Video]

[agent3]

...Yeah. 'M still here.

[Hi, Noct.]

[Video]

[thenightsky]

I've got a house there. Ash and I are in Cianwood right now but a few of my Pokemon are there if you want to go stay there for now.

[It's not much but hey, at least it's something, right?]

I know it won't be the same but if you want someplace a little more homey I guess..

[Video]

[agent3]

[...She tilts her head a little.]

'S okey? For a lil' bit?

[Video]

[thenightsky]

Of course it is. I don't mind and Floof, my Bibarel, will show you around and stuff. He's decided he's the caretaker of the house or something.

[Noctis manages a faint smile at that.]

Most of the Karp Squad are there too so if you need anything, they can help.