victory_road | 01 ; Video + Action

VIDEO : NEW BARK TOWN, THE NIGHT OF JANUARY 3RD

[ She's not looking at the camera at first, instead glancing away while she tries to steel herself. It's not that this is a big deal or anything, just... announcing her presence to the world over the internet. Hah. It doesn't last for long though before she looks almost bored at her invisible audience, chin in hand as she leans on the table. ]

I suppose you could say this is one way to start the new year. Or somebody decided I need to take "new year, new me" for more seriously than I ever have. Who knows?
[ A sentiment she's sure others here definitely share, but does it truly matter? ]

... So does everyone get a tiny unicorn- [ And it's here that a little Galarian ponyta manages to get her head on screen, peeking up curiously- ] or what?

[ Not what she actually intended on asking, but she actually does know the answer: No, people have different creatures from what she's seen in her arrival. This is just a wide net to find out what more to expect, really. Besides, if they want 'vulnerability', they'll have to pay her money. ]

ACTION : ROUTE 29, MORNING OF JANUARY 4TH

[ It's very quickly occurred to her to change into the heavier of the dresses packed, but the cold still bites. Her purple shawl draped over it does little to help, but it makes her feel better at least? Amalthea is in her pokéball, attached at her hip. Her bag is full. The map is in a pocket (and holy shit this dress has POCKETS!!) and the PokéGear in the other. As much as she hates the cold, the idea of staying in this stagnant little town feels even worse to be honest.

So she goes, a splash of pink against the white snow and dark brown bark. Definitely not going to be getting much attention like this! Internally she's already debating on whether she should risk pushing through the night to the town or not. Maybe some company will make this bitter start a bit better. Maybe not. ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Yikes. Poor things...

[ Even she can sympathize with the pokémon there. Or maybe it's easier to do so? Though the mentions of a dog does make her wince just a... tiny bit. Only for a moment. ]

I mean. Skulls and bones are cute. I know, I'm a girl of incredible range. [ I swear she's not being a tad bratty on purpose, she's just like this. ] Hm... I didn't even think about extra provisions. I'll have to look into things...

Hopefully your incredible range also applies to what you'll eat, because until you reach Cherrygrove and its grocery stores you don't get much choice. Or many opportunities to get extra, for that matter. Restaurants don't deliver to routes, either.

[Which is honestly a terribly wasted business opportunity, even if newcomers don't have much money to start with.]

[ She has her limits. But 'low option grocery stores' doesn't meet that limit, so she's not... too concerned. And she's having fun with this, so that's good I suppose? ]

You don't have to worry about that. But I suppose I'll have to head out eventually- [ No, she's not putting it off because of the cold, what are you talking about? ] -so what exactly should I look into? Just... in general. This is all incredibly new to me.

First of all, check if anyone else just popped up in New Bark Town. If you can travel with someone who owns a Fire- or Water-type, the next few days will be much easier. And keep an eye out for any wild Pokémon you might want to catch. The ones in the area tend to be easy to train, and it's a nice spot for future fliers, which will greatly shorten journeys once you get that HM.

[The presence of so many Normal-types on the early routes is just a bonus, as far as he's concerned.]

[ Huh? Fire makes sense with the cold, but why water... Oh. Duh. Clean water source, probably. God, she was not prepared for hiking. Still, Jinx does listen carefully. ]

I haven't seen anyone like... us so far, but I'll keep an eye out for them.

[ In truth, she'd barely considered catching more Pokemon as well- she, uh. Look, keeping a 7 year old who won't eat his vegetables alive and keeping animals alive is completely different, and she's stressed!!! ]

Wait- uh. What's an HM?

They're little disks that can teach certain moves to mmultiple Pokémon. Most of those are related to travel, like Fly or Surf, and they're necessary if you want to ride Pokémon in the air or over bodies of water.

[And then, because he knows that's the obvious follow-up question-]

Don't ask me why a sufficiently large bird needs a disk to learn how to let someone climb on its back, because I have no idea.

That- that's so silly oh my God. This place is ridiculous.

[ She's definitely giggling for a hot second, but forces herself to calm down quickly. Right. Okay. ]

Uh- thanks, for all the tips. I'm Jinx, by the way.

And I'm Ash. Captain Ash. It's a pleasure to meet you, Jinx, even if it has to be in such a ridiculous world. It's also a very peaceful one, at least.

[Mostly. Usually. When Team Rocket is not attacking Christmas markets.]

I think I could use some peace.

[ Not that she knows what to do with it if she's not disturbing it. ]

So, Captain, huh? Military, orrrr...?

Spaceship captain, actually. Which is a job I can't do around here, with the lack of space exploration and all, so you could say my professional growth has currently hit a wall.

[A very long, very solid wall.]

[ what the fuck that's the coolest thing she's ever heard. ]

I hadn't even thought of this place making certain jobs impossible. I don't think I've even seen any cars or anything...

They're so rare around here that you're unlikely to see any. We're allowed to buy train passes, cruise boat tickets and bicycles, but beyond that we're expected to travel on foot or by riding Pokémon.

Hm... given how idyllic everything is, it could simply be a way to cut down on pollution?

[ Seriously, the air was so clean here. And it would make sense with the whole embracing nature through pokémon thing she's started to observe. ]

...You know, considering that excessive pollution tends to spawn Poison-types that pollute their surroundings even more in turn, that could very well be the case.

[If not driving helps keep the wild Koffing population down, he's willing to make that sacrifice.]

Wait, that's seriously a thing?

[ She'd seen "poison" mentioned in the pokedex and the guidebook briefly, but it hadn't mentioned them being connected to pollution. Looks like she'll need to take another look later. ]

Pollution making creatures that make more pollution sounds like a cheesy movie or something. ... Or, you know, something from back home so maybe I shouldn't be too surprised.

You could, if you wanted, adopt a pile of sentient poisonous sludge that can taint the ground so badly it stops supporting plant life.

[It is, in fact, very much a thing.]

Please tell me there isn't another world out there where toxic waste can breed and spread as it wishes.

Edited 2021-02-10 02:15 (UTC)

Well, it's not quite the same but there's Plasmus- I don't know the backstory, or even his real name. But he has to stay asleep contained in a special chamber at all times, or he'll become a toxic, radioactive waste monster hellbent on eating more waste to grow stronger or break whatever's in his way... even though that's not what the human in him wants at all.

[ A tragic fate, honestly. What a nightmare that poor man's life must be. As she speaks she actually looks more upset- like she hadn't realized that bringing him up would make things sound so hellish. ]

And then one time some mold in someone's fridge attacked when the door was opened. [ She makes a face, here. What the shit, Titans? ] I woulda just tossed the whole fridge at that point, or like. Called a priest.

My world has a lot of strange things, even for us, though. Jump City was especially... vibrant however, due to the high population in metapowered teenagers. I don't know if the attack mold was because of magic, alien things or science things, but all three were good contenders.

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