victory_road | Video/Action for New Bark Town

[The video opens to an excited teenage girl sitting on the ground just outside “Mom”’s house. She’s twirling a blue piece of fabric that was her mask that match her godly pjs in her free hand and a skitty chases after it.]
OMG, isn’t this the most adorable pokémon you have ever fucking seen? Is this the universe we created? Because lbr, this is exactly the type of pokémon I would think up. And I don’t remember it from the original games or show. Is the goal really to become the very best, like no one ever was? [Guess who loved pokémon as a child. Just be happy she isn’t singing.]

[But now on to less exciting questions.]

The mom part was fucking bizarre. She was super nice and packed me a bag and lunch. But then she locked me out of the house.Is that normal maternal behavior? Because I’m pretty sure it isn’t.
[A brief pause and frown. The skitty promptly attacks her fingers and she smiles. She seems to be speaking more to herself or the cat than the pokégear.] I hope my friends answer this quickly. [If they’re even here...but that’s a problem she will deal with when she gets to it.] Or at least someone more helpful than the NPC chilling in this town. Not that they aren’t nice. [But like the chess people who surrounded her growing up, they made her feel lonely.] Gastrell the Munificent and I have poké-adventures we need to get up to. [Really excited with a broad smile aimed at Gastrell the Skitty.] This is so much better than the last video game I entered. [Not that that’s a particularly high standard.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ ROXY. Oh, thank fuck. He'll never be able to properly describe or show how incredible the sight of her is. She's here and ... damn. Way to accurately predict her starter, Dirk. He's clutching the device and trying to maintain that straight face. Barely managing.

He goes to say something, a little witty remark, but he momentarily freezes up. Sudden internal dread. Jane was easy. They were never afraid to talk to eachother. But are they okay? When was the last time they talked? There was too much going on. Roxy switched timelines with John, right? Did she talk to the other Dirk at all? Is she caught up? She might be. She's asking if this is what they made.

Fuck. He needs to stop hesitating on a verbal greeting. This is video. ]

If this is the universe that seizure frog turned into, it's your fault. I'm severely doubting that any influence from the rest of us would have lead exclusively to a Pokemon game, of all things.

[It's Dirk. Things are weird, but it's Dirk. It doesn't matter if his disappointed in her or she let him down. He's still a constant in her life. Right? Right. But he's also the friend that she hasn't talked to since the whole Trickster clusterfuck.

But seizure frog means he's not even from the timeline she's from. Did all that bullshit happen the same way? She fucking hates time shenanigans.]

I take full responsibility for this surprising turn of events. Although, I'm not sure I would have picked Pokémon of all games.

[ At least with Roxy, they can both put on a brave face and keep talking - even if there are layers of unanswered questions and uncertainties between them. She's too much of a constant in his life to ignore. And she probably would let him avoid her even if he wanted to.

He really hopes time shenanigans didn't change anything between them. It was weird enough after that candy-coated nightmare already. Fucking time shenanigans. ]

You mean the game where "balls" is said an average of four times a day isn't even the first choice?

[Yeah, avoiding her would most definitely not worked. Probably best he didn't try.]

Only four times? I mean, that's a good selling point, but...

[ He won't try. Dirk's already plotting the quickest route to go and get her. And actually not attempt to walk the entire way himself this time like he did with Jane. He'll have to see if he can borrow Dave and his 'fly' skill again. ]

The allure of Pikachu just isn't strong enough, is it?

[Good. Because she would facepalm a lot if he decided to walk. Also, anything that gets in person reunions sooner is good in Roxy's book.]

He's pretty fricking adorable but no. Now, if I had know about the existences of Skittys, that would have been a game changer. [It's a pink cat. It was made for her.]

There could be no other option as a starter for you. Jane and I were discussing this the other week, actually.

Which reminds me that I have a Meowth put aside. [ For her. If she wants it. Because he purposely caught a cat just on the off-chance she'd actually show.

It's not like Jane and him like her or anything. That's ridiculous. ]

[While it's the perfect starter for Roxy, she can't think of the perfect one for her friends. Maybe she just doesn't know enough Pokémon.] What did you start with?

You got me a Meowth? [Oh shit, it's a cat Pokémon she already knows of. That's adorable.

Of course not. Not like they're friends or anything. But, seriously, Dirk's the best.]

Mime Jr. [ Let him fetch her for Roxy to see. Dirk reaches off screen and pulls the Mime Jr formally known as Anne Hathaway up into his arms and into frame. She immediately starts waving. ] She's like a plush little puppet in a hat. [ He fucking loves this Pokemon. ]

[ He shrugs ] Yes. I'll keep it if you don't want it. [ She wants it. ]

[Roxy waves back. A puppet in a hat.] So, she's perfect for you.

And fuck no, you won't. I have think I have an opening in my party.

Whatever is picking the starters is quite adept at it. I haven't exactly seen one I hadn't thought was appropriate in some form. Jane's got this adorable stubborn thing. [ Why are all three of their starters light pink?? ]

I suppose Eliminster won't mind if I handed him over to you then.

[Because pink is the best color, gdi.]

You even named him after a wizard? Ofc, you did.

Well, he's in-tune with mystical forces. He can produce gold out of thin air.

So I'll be able to eat without beating up ten year old's Pokémon?

I mean, I'd still beat the children anyway to teach them proper competitiveness and have them strive to be stronger but yeah.

How else are they supposed to improve?

Exactly. They sure as shit aren't learning from "Mom."

...Do you think they even have a mom?

I doubt it. They were probably born in a similar fashion to ourselves but with less obvious gene donors.

We don't have gene donors. Unless you mean we know who we were cloned from. So they're cloned like the chess people were.

That's what I meant. They could be. NPCs aren't dissimilar enough in appearance to completely rule it out.

They seem more...scripted than ours were. Like I legit think what "Mom" said is word for word what happened in the game.

You think they'd put a bit more effort into their programming.

Video/Action for New Bark Town

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