|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

[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?

[wing_attack]

Th... the ones who captured me.... the Yeerks...

[charcoalfeather]

"Yeerks"...?

[sounds gross]

[wing_attack]

... Aliens.

[charcoalfeather]

A-a.... [What can she even say to that?]

[wing_attack]

... It's fine if you don't believe me.

[charcoalfeather]

No!

[that may have been a bit loud. Like a river of words being enclosed by a damn, Rakka's voice instantly dipped.]

No, I... I believe you, Tobias. there's lots of things I can believe.

[wing_attack]

... It's fine. It... it sounds kind of crazy, anyway.

[charcoalfeather]

...what doesn't?

[she laughs, a little. Barely.]

I-I mean, we're in a whole new world right now, Tobias.

[wing_attack]

I... huh? What do you... mean?

[charcoalfeather]

This world, the one we're stuck in, it's new to both of us. But, uh, probably more to me then you.

[...]

My home was so small compared to here. The one I can remember, at least.

[wing_attack]

... Was it? What was it like?