|17| [Video] [Text] Backdated to 7/29

[wing_attack]

[The video opens up on a boy shrieking and crying, and from the camerawork it's definitely a Pokemon holding the 'Gear. Regal the Braviary is trying to calm him down, but it doesn't look like it's working. Tobias is just curled up in a ball, trying to get himself to stop screaming, but it doesn't look like that's working well, either.]

[The large furry paw passes it over to something with large blue claws, who types carefully.]

Our young Trainer needs some aid
Some comfort here indeed
So if you all have some ready made
We have a most great need.

Comments

[Action oh boy]

[charcoalfeather]

[Shrieking and crying is an effective way to wake Rakka up, that's for sure. Holy shit. She's looking for you.]

Tobias? ....Tobias!

[Aaaaand now that she's found him, her panic has increased tenfold.]

W-what is it?

[wing_attack]

[Between the giant bird and the giant bear it's not really that hard to find him. But he's curled up, trying to breathe.]

I'll talk, I'll talk! I'll tell you whatever you want!

[charcoalfeather]

[There was a time that the sight of beasts like that would scare Rakka away. My how things change.]

T-talk...? Wait! [No, nope not important. Tobias is still in a ball, and Rakka's rushing over to crouch by his side. Excuse her, Regal, Rachel.]

T-tobias! It's me, Rakka!

[wing_attack]

I don't... I don't know anyone... who's that...

[Rachel makes a confused noise at Rekka. This is bad, isn't it?]

I'll talk, I'll talk...

[charcoalfeather]

[Her gaze slips to the Pokemon... even as a couple of animals, she could sense the fear in their eyes for their trainer. Really, she was right in the same boat with them.]

...O-okay. [Lightly, almost nervously, she placed a hand on Tobias's shoulder.] Talk to me, Tobias. Please. Can you?

[wing_attack]

[He flinches away from the touch, eyes wide and unfocused.]

I... we're all human, all except for that one... it's really just us. I... I could give you their names if... if you just make it stop, make it stop hurting... I want reality again...

[charcoalfeather]

[Good Christ she is lost. And from the way she's understanding all this, she's on her own.]

Tobias... I want to make it stop. [Of course she does! It's simply a matter of figuring out how]

I-I'm here though! So, uh, give me their names, I guess. Anything.

[wing_attack]

J... Jake and Rachel Berenson, a... and Marco and Cassie and Aximili-Esgarrouth-Isthill a... and please, just stop this hallucination, please let me just see reality again...

[He's breathing hard, not bothering to wipe the tears or the snot from his face. Rachel makes a distressed noise and bends down to try to help, but he flinches away from the bear and she stops.]

[charcoalfeather]

Jake... Marco, Cassie, Axi...mili... [That last one is unfortunately a bit of a mouthful. But has she heard those names before? They sounded so important to Tobias, they had to be his friends!]

Tobias... [She's definitely sticking close now, and making sure that any movement she makes doesn't lead to anymore panic.] It's me, Rakka! I'm right here!

[Well he's breathing hard, and Rakka's kind of getting overwhelmed by emotions. Mostly the worrying kind.] Just... listen to my voice. I'm right here...

[wing_attack]

I don't know anyone with that name... please, just turn off the machine. Make it stop. I don't want this anymore...

[Rachel huffs and crouches down, putting a paw on Tobias' shoulder. He looks up, and freezes.]

Rachel?

[He leans into her fur, trembling.]

Get me out of here... make the hallucination stop... I just want to fly again...

[charcoalfeather]

But, it's me... [And it is slowly coming to dawn on Rakka's mind that Tobias isn't going to get that. Not unless she does something...

Anything to ease that trembling.]

W-what machine? What is it? I can... I can turn it off, Tobias.

[wing_attack]

The... the Anti-Morphing Ray... the thing they... were using to bring up memories...

[Rachel kneels and nuzzles into Tobias' hair.]

Stop... make it stop... it hurts.... I'm so tired...

[charcoalfeather]

[Oh. There's no way she can switch that thing off then. Okay.

This calls for drastic measures - a plan which may just amount to sitting next to Tobias, and taking his hand, whichever isn't currently trying to grab onto anything.]

Tobias... you don't have to worry about that anymore. [She's trying to sound soothing, or at the very least, reassuring.] B-because there's no machine like that here! You're in Johto right now.

[wing_attack]

[He tenses at the contact, trying to keep his breath under control. Rachel huffs and nuzzles at his hair.]

Don't... don't know where that is...

[charcoalfeather]

[Well she's not losing her grip.]

It's where you are, right now. And... it's safe. You're safe right now, Tobias.

[It's all just a bad dream.]

[wing_attack]

... I need to get back. We need to fight...

[charcoalfeather]

You don't have to worry about it! Time... time stops when you're here, a-at least that's what someone told me... [And she hopes, everyday, that's right.]

Oh... Please, Tobias. You have to try and remember!

[wing_attack]

I don't... know what you're talking about...

[He shakes his head. He doesn't know what else to do.]

[charcoalfeather]

It's true! You... [uhhh.] You want to start a pokemon gym, and use flying Pokemon. And it's because you think Falkner isn't as good a trainer as you!

[wing_attack]

I don't... understand what you're saying...

[charcoalfeather]

But it's the truth. [And the more Rakka tries to convince him, the more difficult it becomes to hold back some stressful tears.]

You just have to open your eyes...

[wing_attack]

... My eyes are open, but all I can see is a hallucination.

[charcoalfeather]

It's not! [And now she's. Well, she's shaking Tobias a little.]

Please! It's not a hallucination! This is...!

[God, what can she even say.]

[wing_attack]

[He shrinks away from the touch, and Rachel huffs. Come on, trainer, what is your deal?]

They can... bring up a lot of things... maybe I'm dying and I'm hallucinating this.

[charcoalfeather]

[Being tossed shade by a giant bear instantly makes Rakka shrink back as well. Maybe that was just too far.]

..."They"? W-who do you mean, Tobias?