[video]

[marmoron]

[The video feed opens on what appears to be a confused looking Houndour that's obscured by a thumb covering half the camera. Honestly, it's pretty clear that whoever's doing the filming doesn't do a whole lot of selfies and all that jazz.]

This thing even on? ]

[Have two loud thumping noises as Keith taps the mic with his fingers.]

Okay. Don't know what's going on here. But I'm trying to get back inside to get this lady to answer some damn questions--

[The camera's moving away from the Houndour and now focusing on what looks like "mom's" house in New Bark Town.]

And this ,,,Houndour [??? readily audible as his voice goes up at the end.] -- doesn't seem to get how to use tackle. C'mon buddy it's like this.

[BLURRY MOVEMENTS followed by a hard thump against the door. There's a loud sigh as the feed settles again. This time Keith turns the camera to show his exasperated looking face.]

All the dogs here like this?

Comments

[VIDEO]

[insidescoop]

[She's got this. She knows this. HER ANSWER IS-]

....Maybe he just can't use Tackle?

I mean, I don't think all of my pokemon can, so maybe he can't either!

[VIDEO]

[marmoron]

[He's giving Carly a funny look.]

But I'm showing him how! It doesn't seem hard to figure this one out....

[insidescoop]

Yeah but that's not how it works at all! I mean, I guess he could TECHNICALLY tackle something, but it wouldn't be an OFFICIAL 'attack' tackle, you know?

Isn't there something else that he can do? He should practice that!

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[adandyinspace]

[Hot damn, look at that pooch. Finally, all his dog knowledge is going to pay off, it's his time to shine-]

It breathes fire, dude. You're gonna have to burn the door down.

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[marmoron]

[Staring at this for like a good two seconds.]

Great. Got any solutions that don't involve arson?

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[adandyinspace]

Oh, I'm sorry, but I wasn't the one going on about busting some lady's door down. But no, I get it, we're above arson somehow.

[Some people.]

Whatever. You're better off hittin' the road anyway, you ain't gettin' back in there. Your dog's probably figured that one out already, would explain why it's not even bothering to humor you.

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[sociallychallenged]

I think you're better off asking us for answers. I'm expecting Mom's house is some sorta Pokemon demilitarized zone. She just gives you starting gear and sends you on your way.

What else do you want to know? Besides the whole 'how to use tackle' stuff. [Because the dog just doesn't want to. Maybe it's a Mom thing.]

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[marmoron]

Got a few questions, yeah. But hold up... "pokemon demilitarized zone"..?

[He's just going to repeat this phrase a little incredulously because he's not quite following here. Is there a war going on in this land of 8bit music....]

[sociallychallenged]

Just saying I don't think you're going to fight anything in or around Mom's house. Or fight your way back in. Once you're out, you're out.

[Yeah, the 8bit music is strange enough and kills his soul a little. Most people get used to it but he is always hyper-aware of it when he wants to sleep most. It's honestly easier living near train tracks in his case.]

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[shiro2hero]

[Honestly, it only took two words before he fumbles for the 'gear. It's not one of those weird weekends. It's not his imagination. That's--]

Keith?

[It has to be, right? Unless it's some kind of awful Ditto-related prank.]

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[marmoron]

[All bets are off on whether or not the Houndour would have liked for this to be an awful Ditto related prank, BUT--

The exasperation fades instantly.]

Shiro? Wait, what are you -- [Blinking. Cuz ok. what.] ... that really you?

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[shiro2hero]

It's me --

[But shouldn't he be the one to ask that question? He really should offer information, or confirmation, but honestly, he's not sure what to say.]

[His Aggron noses on-screen. Nudging his shoulder until Shiro finds his words again.]

You're back.

» video

[spacebaloney]

Keith, dude! You're back!

[Holy shit is Lance happy to see that mullet. Like unnaturally happy. This is no longer the noodle that used to pick fights with Keith every time he took a breath.]

» video

[marmoron]

[Okay, so it helps a lot that Shiro kinda filled him in on some of the things, but seriously? He's never seen Lance act excited about his existence.

And yeah, it's a little disconcerting. Not unwelcome but. You know. Weird. Twilight zone weird.]

Apparently...?

[Honestly he's just waiting for some curveball to be thrown his way any second now.]

» video

[spacebaloney]

[Well, things have changed, both here and home. He's a grown ass man now (if you let Lance lie to you like that) and after all, once you'd died once and almost died at least two times, one starts to have a different outlook on people who used to be their rivals.]

Apparently? That's it?

[Lance narrows his already beady little eyes down at the camera, looking ever frustrated with Keith's too cool for school attitude.]

You're acting like you don't want to be here. Don't you know how many preschoolers have been running around all wild now that you weren't here to beat them in Pokemon battles?

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[schachmeister]

[The familiar voice sharpens Armin's attention from 'idly checking out his feed' to 'paying rapt attention'. He smiles at first because that is Keith and he is back and that is always a good thing. Shiro will be glad to see him back, and so will the others. Armin is glad to see him back. By the end of Keith's short entry, Armin's smile is slipping a bit again though. He'll have to confirm it, but based on Keith's behaviour and the questions he's asking, he suspects that Keith doesn't remember his previous stay here. If he did, Armin would've expected him to ask about his pokemon, about his team. But instead, it is very much the question of someone unfamiliar with this world and pokemon.

It is, admittedly, a little disappointing, but it is also a feeling he feels bad for having almost instantly; it is not Keith's fault. None of them control being brought to this world or leaving it. Nor whether they retain their memories when they return or not.]

To some degree. Pokemon can learn a lot of amazing things, but there also seem to be some things each species just can't learn. Even if it seems like a thing they should be able to do. There might be some genetic basis for it.

[Or however it is pokemon work. Nobody really knows.]

Not that it would help you a lot if it could learn tackle. I'm afraid that woman doesn't really answer questions.

[An awkward pause because really, how do you bring up the question 'hey, do you remember me at all, we used to be friends' without it sounding awkward as hell?]

Uhm, sorry, this might sound like a strange question but... you don't remember this place, do you? I think I know the answer but I'd like to be certain.

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[marmoron]

[You can practically see Keith's expression fall in real time as Armin speaks. The conversation had started out innocuously enough, but the follow up question has whatever response Keith had initially dying in his mouth. Shiro did warn him about this -- that he'd been here previously, that there would be people who are utter strangers to him asking if he remembers them, but being confronted with it is still massively awkward.

That he had this whole entire life here previously that just got wiped clean from his memories is unsettling to dwell on for long and he hasn't fully wrapped his mind around it.]

Uh... [Well that more or less gives the answer away, so he just blurts out the rest of it.] No, I don't.

[He wonders for a split second if he ought tobe saying sorry here, considering the concern on the guy's face, but what does he really have to be sorry for.]

So... hi?

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[lyingheart]

Depending on their level and what moves they're capable of learning?

Yes.

Along with all the other animals.

Re: text

[marmoron]

how does that even make sense
why can't they learn through example?

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[thegreenhornet]

Wow, a Pokemon who doesn't know how to tackle something. You must be real unlucky.

[Hm, okay, what other basic movements are there...]

You think it can scratch? When they can't tackle, they scratch.

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[marmoron]

Lemme give that a shot.

[Looking at Houndour:]

Okay buddy, scratch.

[And they're both treated to the sight of a confused doggo now starting to lineface in exactly the same way Keith is because apparently this pokemon emerged from an egg knowing exactly one of two things; how to leer and how to set shit on fire. It's.... a mood. Maybe.
Keith feels another sigh coming on.]

... Great.

[Houndour makes an impatient noise of agreement.]

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[unabates]

The dogs here are kind of ... special, yeah. But most of them won't attack Mom's house, is the thing.

[ there's an old man with plenty of scars on his face and receding white hair in the video frame. and poking her head up is a houndoom named dixie, nosing the camera. ]

They tend to stick to attacking other pokemon or animals, not houses.

Re: video;

[marmoron]

[Oh hey, it's another Houndour. That's at least some small guarantee that this dude knows what ups.]

There some kinda rule about that? Never heard of a dog that instinctively knew property damage is bad.

[im_a_leg]

Dude! Keith!

You're back!

Okay so like, no worries at all if you don't remember anything because that totally happens sometimes. But if you do that's cool too! I'm babbling, I'm totally babbling. Everyone's gonna be so excited to see you, man. Someone bring you to the house yet? You eaten anything?

i am so sorry about how late this is

[marmoron]

[By the time Keith's responding to this, he's sort of acclimated more to the weirdness that has become of their various continuities and missing memories. If by "acclimate" we really mean "has given up thinking about this because he's not a Holt and you need to be a Holt to unpack the physics of this." So instead, he grins.]

Hey, Hunk. Good to be back. [Mumbled:] Allegedly.

Shiro came and got me from New Bark Town. Looks like you guys've been doing pretty well here.