[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]

Not a clue! I barely got a look at it before it hid.

[He doesn't seem distressed about this at all. He'll figure it out eventually.]

All I know is that it's relatively small, green, and very fast.

[voidedgoddess]

Small, green, and very fast, huh? [The only thing that comes to mind is Caterpie, except that wasn't particularly fast, was it? But there are so many new ones.] I only know about 150 of them. Did it look like a bug?

Did it say anything? They usually only say their species, so that might tell you. [As if to prove her point, Gastrell yowls "Skit...skitty." That might be hello as he walks up to Ford, deciding the mask is no longer interesting.]

[meteorman]

[Well don't mind him if he just hunkers down on his haunches to get a better look at this little feline. Feline? It sure looks cat-like but you can never tell with alien lifeforms.]

It did not. You've studied them?

[He assumes that's what she means by saying she knows them. Bless this boy, he's never heard of Pokemon. This doesn't stop him from holding out a hand for Gastrell to inspect.]

[voidedgoddess]

[Gastrell bats at his hand with his paw playfully.]

No. In my universe Pokémon was a really popular video game. I was a fricking boss at it. I caught them all, but he's a new one for me.[She nods at Gastrell] Sounds like yours is, too. [Like Ford, Roxy doesn't seem particularly weirded out by been in another universe. Or the thought of being in a video game.]

[meteorman]

[True to form, Ford just nods as though this makes all the sense in the world.]

I see. It's not impossible, though very rare, that what is fictional in one universe will be reality in another. Perhaps the parameters of a videogame were simply too limiting to translate and entire universe's worth of lifeforms. It wouldn't surprise me.

You're an intriguing little thing, aren't you? [This is directed to Gastrell, whose ears he gives a light ruffle before he stands up again.] So. Were there any rules in this videogame for calming agitated Pokemon? I think I could make use of them.

[voidedgoddess]

I don't remember it really being a problem in the game. The anime might have better ideas, but I guess it depends on why it's upset. Is it scared or angry?

[meteorman]

It doesn't seem to be, though it may simply broadcast its emotions with body language humans aren't trained to parse.

[A lot of alien creatures do that. Hell, a lot of native Earth animals do that!]

It hasn't attacked me or displayed any aggressive behavior, so I doubt it's angry, but I don't know why it might be scared.

[It's not like he's a six foot tall brick of a man who could probably crack a coconut on his jawline.]

[voidedgoddess]

[LBR, Roxy has no frame of reference for intimidating adult, so...]

Do you want to see if Gastrell can talk to it? I'm p sure most Pokémon can communicate with each other, regardless of species.

[meteorman]

[Ah, yes, to grow up wild and free in a watery dystopian hellscape. Magical stuff. One day she'll have to tell him all about it.]

If you think it would help I don't see the harm.

[voidedgoddess]

[Do you really want to ask about Homestuck? Actually, Ford probably would, wouldn't he?]

Go for, Gastrell.

[That may have not been the best wording since for a moment it looks like Gastrell might actually attempt to pounce, but instead he asks: What are you doing? Want to play a game?]