[video / action for new bark town]

[meteorman]

[Ford is perhaps better-equipped than most to deal with suddenly being dropped into a strange world unlike anything he's ever seen before. That was his life for thirty-odd years, and that it's begun again doesn't trouble him much. He'll adapt; he always has, with time. The woman (clearly younger than him) calling herself his mother is a little strange, but further inquiry and a cursory scan of the literature included in his new backpack answer most of his questions. In particular, they explain the neat little device that looks very much like an odd cellphone. This 'Pokégear' can be used to communicate with other people, and so that is exactly what Ford decides to do. If he's learned anything in his prior experience with this sort of thing, it's to ask questions.

The camera shakes a little, and his face is sort of awkwardly off to the side of the frame, but he managed to get it working and that's the important thing. For a first try he's not doing all that badly. Behind him, trees and a couple of quaint New Bark Town roofs are visible.]

Greetings! Is greetings the polite form of salutation in this universe? My name is Stanford Pines, and like what I assume must be the majority of you, I am not a native of this world. I only just arrived today, in fact. This is probably the warmest welcome I've seen since the universe where every day is your birthday.

[That place got old really fast, honestly (and you got old really fast if you stayed there too long).]

But, to business. [He holds up a pokéball with the hand not holding the 'gear.] How do you open--

[As if on cue, the Pokéball pops open and out of the light materializes a small green creature. It takes one look at him, lets out a surprised trill, and zips away out of frame.]

Oh! [Ford peers in the direction it went, clearly thrilled to bits.] I think it hid in those bushes, hold on --

[Those who reply by 'gear will get to follow what is essentially Ford Pines liveblogging his attempts to recapture his own starter. Or perhaps, if you're in New Bark Town as well, you'd like to help in person? An old man crashing around in the underbrush on the outskirts of town is sure to draw attention.]

Comments

[meteorman]

I was under the impression it needed to be able to get a direct read with whatever sensor it uses to identify the creatures presented to it, and that's difficult when said creature is intent on hiding. I could attempt to look it up manually...

[He's going to be doing a lot of scrolling if he does.]

[shiro2hero]

That's possible. I haven't been here long enough to know for sure, unfortunately.

... Maybe if you sat in the bushes with it?

[You know man, bond with it.]

[meteorman]

I would if it would let me. But every time I get close --

[A green blur zips into, and then out of, frame, darting off in another direction. Ford's head turns to follow it.]

You see?

[shiro2hero]

That's new.

[Not even his little guy is that fast.]

... lure it with food?

[meteorman]

Yes, a few others have suggested that. It didn't respond to the food I was given by, ah, 'Mom'.

Is that normal for this universe? I don't know how I'm expected to believe a woman who looks twenty years my junior could be my mother.

[shiro2hero]

Any berries around? Mine tends to go for those when he's not... trying to eat my arm.

So far. I got the same story, and -- I'm reasonably sure you and I aren't related.

[meteorman]

It is highly unlikely, though not impossible.

[He has learned by this point that nothing is impossible just because it's improbable.]

Berries... hm.

[He looks around. Surely a berry bush can't be that hard to find -- ? If berries even grow on bushes in this reality. You'd be surprised at how many worlds there are where they don't. Time to tromp off in the direction that green blur went and hope he finds some along the way!]

I feel as though trying to eat your arm may be a sign something's amiss.

[You know, just, puttin' that out there.]

[shiro2hero]

... No it's pretty impossible.

[He's sure he'd know if this guy was his "brother".]

[He'll wait, though, until the guy seems like he's got some vague direction of where he's going or what he's doing, before he answers that.]

It would be, normally. Apparently, the one I got eats metal. And... well.

[He just wordlessly holds up said offending metal arm. Complete with Aron attached to the forearm, happily licking it.]

[meteorman]

Oh! Well yes, that is quite an issue, though it doesn't seem to be doing much damage.

[That's a very impressive prosthetic, actually, and if he wasn't so very concerned about this Pokemon he's supposed to be partnered with he might switch gears entirely to ask about it. Instead he files it away to come back to later -- and rest assured, he's going to.]

Perhaps it's an attempt at affection?

[shiro2hero]

The licking is the least problem.

[It's just annoying.]

Yes, maybe. Any luck with your little guy?

[meteorman]

None as of yet. I tried to tempt it with something from my bag but it didn't seem interested. I can't understand it. If it truly intended to run from me it wouldn't... keep... stopping. Ah.

[He thinks he may have just figured it out. What did he just say -- an attempt at affection. That's what this is.]

Do you think it might be attempting to play?

[shiro2hero]

I haven't been here long enough to know for sure, but it's entirely possible.

Most people say they have the mentality of kids, a lot of the time.

[meteorman]

[Oh boy. He's not always been the best with kids. Stanford 'It's okay to give children weapons, right?' Pines cannot be said to have extensive experience in this department. Still... He looks away from the 'gear and at the indistinct shape rustling gently in a bush about fifteen feet away.]

Is that what you want? Is this some sort of game?

[All he hears in return is an indistinct sound, which he ought to have expected. These creatures can't talk (except to say their names, Roxy taught him that). However, when he takes another few steps closer, it doesn't immediately bolt. That's progress!]

I think we may be on to something.

[shiro2hero]

[IT'S NOT OKAY, SIR. Unless they're teenagers and you have to save the universe. Then it's probably more okay. Either way, don't ask Shiro, he probably doesn't know.]

Throw it something? A ball?

[Maybe they can play catch???]

[meteorman]

[What if they're like... a week or so away from being teenagers, but you still need to save the universe? Is that a hard and fast rule or more like guidelines?]

I'm afraid I don't have one, but, ah --

[He bends. Once again the camera goes wobbly for a couple of seconds until he straightens up again, holding a stick. This ought to do. He tosses it toward the little green creature. Every animal knows this game, right?]

Fetch?

[shiro2hero]

... Okay, I've got to see if this works.

[He's not sure if it will, but, hey. It's worth a shot, right? Not to mention, it's sort of funny to watch the little guy run around.]

[... not that Shiro is going to say that out loud.]

I'm sorry I'm not more help. Mine is a lot more cooperative.

[meteorman]

[The stick stops in mid-air, surrounded by a soft glow. Ford angles the camera to be sure it's visible, because this is a New Development and quite interesting to boot.]

I think --

[It launches itself back at him and whacks him square in the nose.]

[shiro2hero]

[Oops.]

[That... uh. Is unexpected. It's a struggle not to laugh. It's been a long time since he felt that urge.]

[Even his Aron pokes its head onscreen to stare. And squeak indignantly at the unseen creature.]

... Guessing that's a 'no' on the fetch.

[meteorman]

[At least the Pokémon has come out from inside the bush. For the first time he gets a decent look at it where it floats in the air, upper limbs lifted to where he supposes its mouth would be. In fact, he can just hear a soft el-el-el-el that is most definitely inhuman and yet immediately recognizable for what it is.]

It's laughing at me.

[shiro2hero]

Well. That's new.

[At least he's fairly sure his Aron doesn't do that. The laughing at him thing. As he looks over at it, curiously.]

At least it thinks you're funny?

[meteorman]

I... suppose. I don't see what's so funny about that.

[Ford, suck it up, that was hilarious. And, most likely, proved to your Pokémon beyond a shadow of a doubt that you're a completely harmless doof. And speaking of him being a doof...]

... Wait. Did you stop that stick with your mind? Oh -- oh, hold on --

[He holds up the 'gear. Now that it's not obscured, maybe he can get a read on it!]

Elgyem, the Cerebral Pokémon. It uses its strong psychic power to squeeze its opponent's brain, causing unendurable headaches. Rumors of its origin are linked to a UFO crash site in the desert 50 years ago.

So it -- you're -- an alien?

[Now, after thirty years of living in the multiverse this isn't exactly shocking in and of itself. What is, however, exceptional is that this particular universe has extraterrestrials that so closely mirror extraterrestrial legends from his own home planet. Did they influence each other? Does this universe have its own Area 51? There are so many questions.]

[shiro2hero]

[Honestly, at this point, Shiro isn't entirely sure if the guy is talking to him or the pokemon. If it's the latter, is he supposed to answer? He looks over at his Aron, who stares back, tilting its head.]

[Nah man Aron doesn't get it either, you're on your own, dad.]

Is... everything going all right over there?

[Should he leave him alone with his science? Or is this more like Coran where any audience is a good thing.]

[meteorman]

[He's just a little distracted, is all. This is an Interesting Development, and Ford tends to easily get caught up in those.]

I believe so. This is certainly more progress than I have managed to make all day.

[The Elgyem floats closer; there's still a safe distance between them but it's no longer attempting to hide. See? Progress!]

[shiro2hero]

[Yep. Definitely like Coran.]

Good. Glad you got that worked out. Hopefully it just keeps getting better.

[This progress is agreed upon by the chirping from his Aron -- it's proud of you too, Elgyem.]

this seems almost like a good place to wrap, unless you had other things you wanted to do?

[meteorman]

[It is criminally adorable that a tiny steel lizardturtle chirps.]

Somehow I have a feeling that it will.