1st meal [video/action for anyone in NBT/Route 29]

[yellowbellied]

---ooohhh no no no no no! It's not even mine, I'm gonna get in so much trouble--

[The view is half of a pokemon's mouth and a small flash of gold, and a moving sky and trees along Route 29. There's soft breathing from the pokemon, and a lot of shouting from a person chasing behind him.]

Oh man, pleeeeeease!? Running's hard! A-and... I'll feed you! You like food, right? I'll find you some--

[His footsteps get heavier, and as the pokemon slows, there's a loud thump. The view shakes with a loud squeal, and soon it clatters to the earth. There's Hunk, laying on the ground and holding a wiggling Sandshrew in both hands, over his head. He sighs, obviously relieved.]

Look, buddy. I don't know if you're mine or someone else's I gotta babysit like some JRPG quest, but you can't just go around stealing equipment while I'm still trying to figure it out. [The little sandshrew squeaks, paws weakly wiggling around in front of him. An apology of sorts? Hunk grins.] Nah, I'm not mad at ya. But let's work together now, okay? Besides that lady who kicked me out, you're the only person--well, you're not a person, per say--

[Sandshrew's tail whaps him against the stomach. He winces.] Oof! Okay, okay! What I'm tryin' to say is we're in this together. You and me against... whatever else is out there.

[It takes him a bit of wiggling to sit back up while holding the Sandshrew in his arms, but he sets it on his lap once he's upright. With that, he glances around--and notices a telltale beeping from the discarded gear.] --Whoa! Buddy, you turned it on! How'd you do that?

[Hunk pulls it closer, holding it up to face him properly.] Helloooo? Anyone there?

Comments

video;

[cardboard_boss]

[Snake was masking the fact that he was finding what was going on with this guy and his Sandshrew really amusing. Looked like he didn't even know the feed was on.]

Pokémon are more intelligent than most think.

[Don't mind this grizzled soldier looking at you from across the screen.]

video;

[yellowbellied]

[Whoa, a new face! Hunk's eyes widen at his gruff appearance, not recognizing this individual at all. But he... seems nice? He was probably laughing at him.]

Yeah... I mean, I played the game when I was growing up but... I don't remember them ever running off like this. So does everyone really get one of these guys?

[cardboard_boss]

Played the game?

[Sorry, buddy, but he's not quite following you with that one. Fourth wall an' all.]

Yeah, everyone gets one. It's random as to what you get.

[yellowbellied]

Yeah, uh... Well, unless I'm thinking something completely wrong, it reminds me of a video game I had when I was little. But... might be wrong.

[Maybe it's before his time... maybe Hunk's just making stuff up. He's been through a lot since then. Who knows, it is a mystery.]

Oh... So I get this armadillo-lookin' fellow. I'm guessing there are a ton more. There's... this place is strange.

[video]

[defyingfrigidity]

[Yeah... sorry, Hunk, there's a young woman laughing at you right now. It's not a mocking sort of laugh, though. She just sounds amused!]

It seems like you and your sandshrew are off to a good start together!

[video]

[yellowbellied]

[He dies a little. At least she's entertained by his antics! He can't blame her though.]

You think so? Well, it's not trying to scratch me, so I guess that counts as good?

[video]

[defyingfrigidity]

I think so, yes. I admit, I don't have one of my own... but the creatures here are quite friendly, most of the time. It looks like he's just trying to play with you.

[video]

[yellowbellied]

You didn't get one of these little guys? [His eyes widen a little.] How'd you survive the grass?! [Missing the point? He's good at that.]

I guess it's a good thing he's friendly! It's cute. Tail's kinda like a tree trunk though.

video;

[shiro2hero]

Hunk?

[That's a familiar voice, for sure. Even more so once the gear actually faces the person in question.]

Can you read me?

[Yeah some radio habits never change, even though this is a video feed.]

video;

[yellowbellied]

[There's a loud gasp and Hunk leans forward.]

Shiro! Loud and clear! Where are you!?

video;

[shiro2hero]

Along route twenty-nine. I just came back down your way to pick up Keith.

Is anyone else with you?

[Since more than half the team is here now, it doesn't hurt to check.]

video.

[gonerouge]

[keith can do weird science technology, so he can definitely handle the gear. what takes him for surprise though is seeing his friend on the screen. it would be a little concerning if time didn't stop back home, but it does. so he doesn't have to worry about the sake of the universe with three of the paladins here in the pokéworld.] Hunk? Hey, it's me Keith.

video.

[yellowbellied]

[Hunk immediately replies with a big, relieved grin.]

Keith! You're here too! Are you okay? Where are you?

[gonerouge]

Yeah, I'm fine! I'm with Shiro off of route 29, I believe? It's the only route once you leave New Bark Town.

[Video]

[questionmarksthespot]

Lotsa people here, dude. And these little guys are a lot smarter than you might think, I see 'em making broadcasts all the time.

[Video]

[yellowbellied]

Broadcasts? Like... from these little guys?

[He looks at his pokemon, then back at the screen.] So is this some sort of video chat?

video;

[secondhandsome]

Ha, wow, look at that. Looks like your little buddy there's got this all figured out. Can't say mine's figured out how to use the gear...

But uh, yeah. Plenty of people here.

video;

[yellowbellied]

I... guess so! Wasn't expecting it to just run off with it but I guess it wanted me to pick up the pace. I'm not made for running though. Noooooo good at that.

[He squints curiously at the device.] So... guessing this can connect me to a bunch of other people here then? What world is this?

video;

[secondhandsome]

Yeah, they uh... they kinda just do what they want, for the most part? Well, mine do, anyway. Pretty glad they haven't actually run off like that, though.

[He's good at running, but he'd... still prefer not to.]

Yep. Lot of people here and just about everyone has one of these. And uh... well... I honestly don't really know what the planet's called. Your device there comes with a map, you can see at least the region on there, but... that's about as far as my knowledge goes here.

[Video]

[garbagechild]

<sub>[MAN, this video brings back memories! Wrath met his Trubbish in very much the same way.]

[Well, except that the Trubbish hadn't been his starter, it had just sort of... decided it liked him. OH WELL. STILL.]</sub>

You gotta give it a snack.

Then you'll be friends for real.

That's how you make it official.

[Video]

[yellowbellied]

A snack? Man, that's the best way to make friends.

[He laughs. He likes you, kid!]

I got that in the bag!

Well. Normally. Not so sure about this one though. [He glances over at his backpack.] Do we start off with snacks? Do you know?

[Video]

[garbagechild]

<sub>[SNACKS ARE VERY IMPORTANT TO WRATH.]

[At the question, he just shrugs and makes an ambivalent "iunno" noise.]</sub>

I didn't start where you are.

I just woke up in the yellow town. There was a cafe-teria.

[Video]

[charcoalfeather]

[Ooh. Well, that was the inside of a Sandshrew's mouth, not something Rakka especially wanted to see, but she can't help but find what's happening kind of amusing.

And familiar. Quite familiar as a matter of fact. Ahem. But anyway...]

Uh, hello! I'm here. I mean, not there, but I am here.

[Video]

[yellowbellied]

Here like in this world? Roger that. [He smiles. What a sweet greeting!] Hello. Are you from here? Or stuck like the rest of us?

[Video]

[charcoalfeather]

Hehe, yes, this is the only world around! [Right now, that is. Look, the whole 'other planet' thing is still blowing her mind.]

I'm not from here, same as you, and uh just about everyone else you'll talk to on his device. The Pokegear can be really handy, once you figure out how to use it!