video - 001

[nastyboy]

[For those who happen to check into this particular Pokegear feed, they'll find a... bit of a mess at first. It's the awkward fumbling glitch of a person who has never used technology: random noises, constantly shifting camera views, going from selfie mode to camera mode... a mess! But eventually, after a few minutes of this mess, the scene finally stabilizes...]

[To a view of a video game loading screen. To be exact, Misty Mendacity.]

[After another second, a smaller screen pops up in the corner of the video - the camera of the Pokegear that's streaming this whole mess. And it's not a person, despite the name attached to this Pokegear being "Dimitri Alexandre Blaiddyd". Rather, it's.. a Rattata.]

[Yes, someone's Pokemon has learned how to use it before the actual owner.]

[Yes, a purple rat is streaming what the kids call a "let's play".]

[The head of a rather skeptical Shinx joins the Rattata as the game starts, leading through the opening scene with an ominous Mismagius explaining the story, and then the first level starts off with what looks like a hotel and way too much Aipom imagery scattered about. It seems to play sort of like a 3D Pacman, for those familiar with that game...]

[And, also, you know, murderous looking Aipom animatics with enormous teeth that lead to a jump scare and "death" screen.]

[The first time this happens, the Rattata shrieks and scurries off while the Shinx merely jolts in surprise before leaning forward with the glare of suspicious cats everywhere. After a few moments, the Rattata creeps back with morbid curiosity, and hits the 'continue' button.]

[Encourage the Rattata's endeavors? Or wait a few hours later until there's the sound of a door opening into what's clearly a hotel room behind the little Rattata and a confused (and deep, if you're into that) voice speaks up.]

What are you doing...?

Comments

[demonpuppy]

Ah--!

[Chip flinches and curls up reflexively, hesitating before they peek out...okay. Okay, he was just. Scared of the Pad? They're still definitely spooked when they reply.]

It's...it's a video thing? Wait, um--it's like a play, but it's in the box...?

[nastyboy]

[Oh no. Oh no. He scared a child. Well, he's basically guaranteed eternal damnation now, if literally every other aspect of his life hadn't already.]

[Letting Gremling see if the Pokegear is alright, Dimitri immediately turns to Chip and raises his hands apologetically. He doesn't approach them right away, either - he can still remember how uncertain they were of him when they all met.]

I'm sorry. I- was rash. It surprised me. Are you all right?

[demonpuppy]

N-no, you--it's--

[Chip sucks in a sharp breath and shakes their head, trying to will away their panic. Dimitri's nice, he won't--they didn't even do anything this time! It's fine!]

I'm okay! I just...it was loud.

[nastyboy]

[Dimitri carefully lowers himself down into a sitting position on the ground, knees up to his chest - he's aware that he's rather tall, and built. Even moreso for a child. Maybe... being smaller will help.]

...I do not like loud things either. It makes me think bad things are going to happen.

[demonpuppy]

[They recognize that kind of careful phrasing immediately, moreso than Dimitri's deliberate attempt to reduce his looming stature. It prickles irritation up their spine, the insult that they can't just be talked to, and their words burst out before they can think about it.]

I'm not a baby, you don't have to--

[But like a bubble in a boiling pot that flash of anger quickly fizzles into nothing, and Chip winces inward again. Stupid, stupid, shouldn't yell like that--]

...'m sorry.

[nastyboy]

It's fine.

[He's been yelled at far worse by his best friend, Chip, he's fine.]

What... would you like me to do, then?

[demonpuppy]

[(x) doubt]

...I dunno.

[They peek back up at Dimitri meekly, still wary for some repercussion over their outburst.]

...are you okay?

[nastyboy]

I am okay.

[For, like. A very flexible definition of "okay". But Dimitri is no worse off than he has been for, like, a while now, so he'll accept that.]

[...Oh. He perks up slightly.]

Would you like to see a strange crab I found?

[demonpuppy]

A crab?

[DISTACTION]

How big is it?

[nastyboy]

It is very small - I think it is still a child.

[Pushing himself up, Dimitri goes back to the door, where he grabs the bucket he'd placed outside.]

It is different than the ones that we normally see on the beach here...

[Gently, Dimitri brings the bucket over to Chip and tilts it forward for them to see: a crab not even as big as Gremlin, and a gold color that seems to glitter in the hotel lights.]

[demonpuppy]

[Chip leans forward, wide eyed and excited...!]

[...and it's just. A normal crab. Well, at least it glitters...]

It just looks like a normal little guy... [They reach in to poke one of the claws, with no idea what they're about to bring on themself.]

[nastyboy]

[Hey, in Dimitri's defense: he said it was nothing more than a crab.]

They attached to my pants leg when I was running errands for the inn owner...

[Which is all Dimitri gets to say because, surprised by the Sudden Intrusion of what is surely the largest finger in the universe - or at least as large as this tiny Krabby has seen - the little crab lets out a weak but Definitely Existing water gun....]

[Right at Chip's face.]

[demonpuppy]

[Yeah, but what if it was a cool crab?]

[But yeah anyway Chip is completely owned by that and goes flailing back ow it went up their nose!!!!]

ACKPTH!!

[nastyboy]

[Ha. Dimitri smiles a little bit, even as he pulls the bucket away so that the Krabby can exist in peace.]

I imagine that was its response to your complaints.