[Network Post 002]

[freckledfocus]

[There's a blurry white blob when the video opens, chittering as it backs away. Finally in focus, anyone watching is treated to a chipper Pachirisu munching on a Poffin. A Hoppip slowly slides into view, eyeing the Poffin hungrily. In the background, an Eevee tries to coax a Litwick to come closer all while a smiling blond shuffles in and plops down on the ground.]

Fulgur, I know you stole that from Kirby. Give it back. [He says this with a chuckle, knowing that soon the two of them will be off having a tug-of-war over what's left of the treat. The Hoppip really should know by now that he needs to keep an eye on his food at all times, but Prompto's pretty sure this is his way of initiating a game.]

S-sorry everyone. Can't let him get away with grabbing other people's food all the time. So yea, it's been a while. I'm glad that weird forest is gone, n' I'm sure a lot of you are happy about that too. Did anyone else have a crazy weekend?

[Fulgur and Hoppip started their fight for food (it's not like Prompto doesn't have more, but in Kirby's mind it's the principle of the thing) on-screen and have since darted off to continue battling for the tasty morsel. The Eevee and Litwick are closer now, the latter looking more hesitant with each step but continuing to get nearer to the blond trainer and the Eevee chirps merrily, apparently pleased at the Litwick's decision to join their trainer.]

We're in Goldenrod now, not sure for how long but probably a while - I have a new friend to meet up with and Iggy mentioned camera shopping, which will take time. Speaking of cameras [He turns to scoop the Litwick up and sweetly scratch the Eevee's ears] this little lady has been great at helping me get some awesome night shots on the 'gear. But I do really miss having a camera, and I'm sure Lux and Pryna will help me test all the ones that look good.

Ugh, I keep going off on tangents. So, uh, if I do end up getting a camera... is there anyone who'd want, like, portraits of their Pokemon or their team or somethin'? Tryin' to figure out a way to earn some extra money and photography is pretty much the one thing I'm good at other than shooting.

[Maybe there are other odd jobs he can try taking up for now to help get money for a camera. It wouldn't be fair for Ignis to be the only one of them working, and Prompto needed to get his own money anyway.]

Well, that was long and rambling. Just wanted to pop on here and say hello again now that things are back to normal. Sorry it's been so long. Had to recharge a little. Promise to pop back up sooner next time!

[With a jaunty one-armed wave, Prompto hugs Lux closer and winds up toppling over as Pryna jumps in on the hug and overbalances him. The video cuts out with Prompto on his side, smiling widely with two Pokemon nestled in his arms, a slight green blur in the corner of the screen the only indication that it's likely the Hoppip that ended the transmission.]

Comments

[forsaintcecilia]

Are you a photographer? Like a for-serious photographer?

[Kazuki happily watches as Prompto's Pokemon get up to all sorts of mischief-- it reminds him a lot of his own crew.]

I know what it's like to lose your instrument. I didn't have a trumpet when I first got sent here.

[Video]

[freckledfocus]

Uh, sort of? I'm pretty good at it, and my friends tell me I keep getting better. Even managed to sell some photos to a magazine back home, got almost a regular gig with them ... kinda.

[Photography had been his dream job, still is, and he definitely knows his way around cameras and lighting and all that. Is that enough to make him a serious photographer?]

Like, I take it seriously. So ... yea. I'm a photographer.

[The smile taking over his face makes him feel silly, but he can't help it. There's something awesome about introducing himself as a photographer.]

You play an instrument? That's pretty awesome! Were you able to find one here? I'm Prompto, by the way, though you probably got that from the network video....

What's your name?

[Video]

[forsaintcecilia]

I think that totally counts as serious! [Kazuki smiles brighter as he listens to Prompto's accomplishments-- artists can easily empathize over that feeling, when a hobby or a passion becomes a lifestyle, and you start addressing yourself by it.] Seeing your work in a magazine must be really cool!

Yeah, thankfully! An old man lent me this one. The action isn't as smooth as the one I play at home, but it was still super, super nice of him to do. I was going crazy without one!

I'm Kazuki! It's nice to meet you, Prompto!

[Video]

[freckledfocus]

Hi Kazuki! Y-yeah it was pretty cool. [Prompto starts rubbing the back of his neck with one hand, a mild nervous gesture at the praise and beaming smile coming from this kind stranger new friend.]

I'm happy that someone gave you that one then! I, uh, don't know much about instruments really, but will playing it help the action get smoother? Ooh! Think I could hear you play sometime?

[The blond can sympathize with Kazuki, knowing how it feels to be without something you love. He wonders if music is for this new friend what photography is for him, a way to escape and make something he can enjoy that other people might also enjoy.]

[Video]

[forsaintcecilia]

[Kazuki is totally that way! The trumpet is how he totally lets loose and enjoys himself through self-expression, but it makes him happiest when other people enjoy his music as well! It's why he performs, and also why he wants to teach.]

It'll get a little smoother with grease and work, but the make just isn't as fine, and there's nothing you can do to fix that. Still, you have to have a seriously trained ear to hear the difference between a cheap model and an expensive one, so it doesn't really bother me.

And sure you can hear me play! Where are you right now? Or I could just have Maestra hold the gear for me, and you could watch like that.

[rambling_runner]

Hey Prompto! Well, I can safely say the weekend happened. I remember seeing Noctis and Ignis but they weren't exactly the same as they normally are...

[ He was a bit torn on that front. On the one hand, his Dad had been here with him and he'd been able to show him so much. It'd been amazing, and it was so good to have heard his Dad's opinions on stuff, even when he'd correctly predicted some of his reactions. On the other, he'd vanished as soon as the weekend was over; the only evidence left being the few things moved around in his place. Aside from that,t here was the usual weirdness; why had Noctis been a kid this time? ]

But hey, it's good to hear you've come out of it all alright! Oh yeah, I'd be down for some pics too. I mean, I do take some on the gear but I'm not like, amazing at it.

[freckledfocus]

Oh hey! Ash, right? Yea, Iggy was definitely not his usual self...

[Well, was being yourself but as you were when you were a kid actually still considered you being yourself? Ugh, too confusing to think about.

The important thing was the weekend was real and Iggy being a kid was real and the strangeness of dealing with a child like that is something Prompto will never forget. Ever. Even though it was almost cute how devoted little Ignis was to little Noctis.]

What sort of pics are you after? You want action shots or just like, family portrait-style pics?

[Maybe it would be easier to meet up in person and talk about it. He has to be close since Iggy had been able to find Noctis over the weekend.]

[rambling_runner]

Honestly, I dunno if a portrait with everyone is possible. I kind of...have a lot of Pokemon...

[ He looks very sheepish cos yeah, it's hard to fit over forty Pokemon into one picture! ]

But there's some groups who are always hanging out together and it'd be nice to get some shots of them hanging out. And honestly it'd be nice to hang out with ya too.

[ From what he's heard, Prompto's a cool guy! Although God knows what Ignis has told Prompto about him. ]

[freckledfocus]

[Prompto may not know Ash, but if Noct is comfortable with him (which he must be since they're travelling together just the two of them) then that's enough to tell the blond he's a good guy. Because Iggy hasn't said much about Ash, or about Noct for that matter, so Prompto's flying blind.]

Y-yea that would actually be great! Uh, we're in Goldenrod right now. Me n' Iggy. Are you nearby still?

[rambling_runner]

Well...not really. We're still in Olivine. I'm guessing the world just, went really weird with it's geography along with everything else.

We can warp there but trust me, doing that over and over to get somewhere is a real quick way to make ya feel travel sick. If something comes up I'd do it of course, but it's not worth it for a visit, ya know?

[Video] or is it...?

[seeingeyesteward]

[ There was a shaky video, like found footage style that rattles up onto Prompto's screen. Its a shot of what looks to be Goldenrod..? The camera angle peeks around the corner and there's Prompto, talking into his gear. The image is steady, slowly zooming in... before cutting out. ]

Re: [Video] or is it...?

[freckledfocus]

[Prompto watches the video closely, wondering what was going on before his face pales as he sees himself. Whoever sent him this video was .... watching him.

The blond looks around wildly, eyes wide and voice shaking more than he'd care to admit.]

H-hello? Is someone there?

*mysterious cackling*

[seeingeyesteward]

[It wouldn't be so easy. Nothing was seen when Prompto looks around wildly but a ding would come from his gear. Another video...

This time from a different angle. A different building, closer to Prompto now. There was a deep rumble on the video now, like something almost.. growling..? Before it cut out again.]

Re: *mysterious cackling*

[freckledfocus]

[Alright, this is downright freaky. His pulse is starting to race, fight or flight beginning to set in, and he whistles for Pryna.

In the fights she's been in, his little Eevee has held her own pretty damn well. And Prompto could use the comfort of her presence as well as her muscle.]

I don't know who you are, or what you are, but this isn't funny. Come out or l-leave me alone.

[He shakes his head when his voice cracks at the end, but takes comfort in Pryna nudging his leg as if she's saying 'good job'. Her ears are perked and she's ready for whatever her trainer asks of her.]

[seeingeyesteward]

[There was silence. Good, look that way.. because behind them... Claws raised, mouth opened to show mean teeth...

Pimpkaboo screamed!]

GOOURRRRRRRR!!!!!

Video;

[schachmeister]

Do you have a lot of experience with cameras?

[Video]

[freckledfocus]

[He barely has to think, recalling the pictures he took as a child and how they evolved into the photographs he's taken during their ... road trip.]

Loads! I've been taking pictures since I was a kid. That's actually what got me into photography in the first place.

[Video]

[schachmeister]

Oh! Hold on, please.

[He ducks away few a few moments, before he appears on screen again, holding a camera. It's a decent camera, the type meant to be a good beginner model for someone new to photography. Nothing super fancy, but also something a little more complicated than taking pictures with the gear.]

Would you maybe know how to use one of these? I've had it for a while but I don't really know how to use it. I'd read the manual, but I think Eren must have lost that.

[Or just gotten rid of it, because who needs manuals? Not Eren motherfucking Jaeger, that's who.]

[Video]

[freckledfocus]

[His eyes widen when he sees the blond hold up a pretty nice looking camera.]

I'm sure I could figure it out! Uh, do you know if it takes film or if it's digital? If you're in Goldenrod we could meet up and I could maybe show you how to use it.

[There is absolutely no way a stranger would just happen to see his video and have a camera and offer it to him. This guy probably just wants to learn how to use it and honestly, Prompto would love the chance to teach someone what he knows.

It'll be nice to have an appreciative and interested audience.]

[Video]

[schachmeister]

I'm not really sure. How do you tell? And, uh, what is the difference?

And we're not near Goldenrod at the moment, but we're planning to go there soon. Maybe we could meet up then? I'd really like to learn how to use this.

[Though Eren did not intend it, it's still something he left Armin. And Armin doesn't want to let it go to waste.

Besides, it's not like he is any good at drawing. If he could take pictures of the things he sees, he could put them in his journals to illustrate the pokemon he meets.]

[Video]

[garbagechild]

I almost stopped existing.

<sub>[CRAZY WEEKEND? Wrath is still hung up on that freaking forest, apparently.]

[But aside from that... VERY GRIM STATEMENT, he's super ready to talk about what's happening onscreen.]</sub>

A man in the house I halfway live in has a camera. I'm not allowed to touch it.

Maybe you should talk to him.

[Video]

[freckledfocus]

Wait, what? [Prompto's already kicking himself for waiting so long to reach out to Wrath now that he was finally in Goldenrod, but hearing that the kid almost stopped existing makes him feel even worse.]

How is that even possible?!

[His eyes are wide and he closes them before shaking his head, taking a deep breath.] Y'know what? How about we actually meet up and you can tell me what happened and then maybe we can check out the camera.

[As interested as he is in the camera, he'd much rather spend time talking with his new friend and figuring out what went on with him since they last spoke.]

Where do ya wanna meet?

[Video]

[garbagechild]

_{[He shrugs his scrawny little shoulders, ALMOST BLASE ABOUT IT. :T Just little Homunculus things!]}

Technically I'm not supposed to exist anyway.

But I like existing. So I'm glad I'm still doing it.

_{[He does visibly perk up at the offer, though-- he hadn't even realized that his new buddy was IN Goldenrod.]}

Oh! Oh! Um, do you know where that big store is? The one that won't let you in without shoes?

Let's meet there!

I have shoes, so I can actually go inside.

_{[He's always had shoes. He just refuses to wear them in warm weather because he's a freaking gremlin.]}

[Video] (I have no idea how they read time in Pokemon universe so I'm gonna go with our time...)

[freckledfocus]

[... He's pretty sure all stores won't let you in without shoes. So that's not much of a help. But he'll figure it out.

And he's not even going to touch the statement about existing. Nope. Not right now.]

I'm glad you're still existing too, Wrath. I'll head over to that store after lunch. That good with you? To meet there around 1 in the afternoon?

[Video] (lmao yeah don't worry, no need to think too hard about it)

[garbagechild]

Okay!

I'll just be there.

_{[Wrath isn't particularly good at telling time-- but he gets around that by just GOING WHEREVER HE'S SUPPOSED TO GO and waiting.]}