[01] video / action - route 29 + cherrygrove

[lightningfang]

[video - route 29, backdated to 1/4. action responses welcome too!]

[The video clicks on to the darkened, zoomed in face of a Bunnelby. It sniffs at the PokeGear and its sudden light and noises, then quickly loses interest. As it moves on, daylight filters in and illuminates the contents of a bag, all being jostled as the Pokemon rummages around.

This goes on for a minute or two before the bag sags, revealing some of the surrounding forest and... a giant Eevee?

No, actually... It's a person wearing an Eevee kigurumi over the outside of their clothes, like an animal skin. The kid is silent and stern-faced, in the stalking stance of a predator as he gets closer and closer... and finally, after crouching, he pounces.

Quite a few things happen in the next span of two seconds. The Gear gets thrown out into the snow as the boy lands, and the Bunnelby screams in surprise. The bark of a Rockruff sounds off furiously in tandem. There's the loud, wet splat of a Mud-Slap hitting true, and a pained grunt from the victim.

Upside down, the camera still films the Bunnelby sprinting back off into the trees, and the boy now caked in mud heaves a sigh as he starts to scrape the dirt from his eyes and mouth.]


[action - cherrygrove, forward-dated to 1/6]

[After nightfall, it may be considered wise for most humans in Cherrygrove to be indoors and bundled up. After all, the combination of snow and ocean air only serves to exacerbate the cold.

It seems, though, that isn't the case for one person. A skinny teenaged boy in tattered clothing and his Rockruff shadow slink through the quiet town, avoiding streetlamps, windows, and doorways. When things catch his attention -- an odd machine, a distant noise -- he pauses to stare and listen and sniff, but ultimately keeps moving. When he stays still, the chill really sets in, and he can't afford to get much colder.

Like a stray dog, he follows his nose to the back entrances of what few restaurants there are and starts picking through the trash. His face is curious, seemingly ignorant to the fact that it's... you know. Trash.]

Comments

[eternallyabsconding]

No, that's not-- Blood and darkness. [Zag pinches the bridge of his nose. He doesn't have a whole lot of experience engaging with kids, let alone feral wolf children.] Where are your parents? Who takes care of you?

[He makes some emphatic hand gestures along with this words, but they're really not inferring anything of use.]

[lightningfang]

[As if thought has suddenly come to him in droves, he doesn't answer immediately, but stares at the wrapped burger. It takes him some poking and prodding to figure out there's a casing on it. Once he has a corner unwrapped, he glances around at Zagreus and both of their Pokemon, as if searching for objections. When he finally takes a bite, it brings a smile to his face. He breaks a section off and offers it to his Rockruff before addressing Zagreus at last.]

No parents. Not from here.

[eternallyabsconding]

So you're one of us, then? [Well, that makes this encounter very marginally less strange, as he found that people from this world generally didn't need to root through trash for food.] Were you just set free without any help? Didn't your "mother" try to give you money and food?

[lightningfang]

[At the thought of New Bark and the food he was given, Razor wrinkles his nose.]

Not mother. Not enough meat. Long journey here, no prey in forest.

[He doesn't even comment on the money, just looks back at his burger and picks out some green stuff before taking another bite.]

[eternallyabsconding]

I like a good steak myself kid, but other food is still better than garbage. [No prey in the forest? The thought of where meat comes from here crosses Zag's mind, but there are more important things to address here.] You had to have been given money, even I got enough to get by. Where's the satchel everyone's supposed to get?

[lightningfang]

[Following another blank stare at Zagreus, Razor gives the rest of the food to Pup, although she'd had plenty of scavenged berries on the route. He just doesn't seem to be understanding, though he does sling around the backpack he was given, as if proving his point that there's no more food in it.

After another moment's thought, he tries to explain.]

I'm no city human.

[eternallyabsconding]

I'm beginning to come to that realization. [And it's not going to make Zag cut down on his vocabulary either. He crouches down and reaches his hand out towards Razor, in a perfectly unthreatening manner.] Here, give me that. I'll give it back, promise.

[lightningfang]

[Considering Zagreus has been nothing but kind, Razor has no reason to distrust him. And anyway, that stuff isn't really his, it was just shoved at him by some stranger. He allows Zag to take the backpack and turns his attention back to the Houndour.]

Your pup... Is it Geo too?

[eternallyabsconding]

Hmm? No, this is Ena. He's, uh, a Houndour. I don't know what yours is. [Said while he roots through said bag. And he does indeed fish out some Pokecash.] See? This is money, you can exchange it for more food.

[lightningfang]

Ena... Ena is a good pup. [He can just Tell.

Razor regards the P with some apprehension.] Money. Like... Mora? [He's quiet again, unsure.]

At home, my friends did that. Don't know how.

[eternallyabsconding]

Oh, he is, no argument there. [Ena agrees with a happy little yip, Zagreus is also a good Trainer! Zag gives him a quick pat on the back.] Sure, if that's what they call it where you're from. So you've never paid for anything yourself? That's a wrinkle. I could try and teach you how, but I'm getting the feeling that's just going to unearth new problems...

[lightningfang]

[It's nice to see a human and a canine getting along so well. If he had any doubts before, now Razor is positive Zagreus is a good man.]

Don't worry. Not hungry anymore. Thank you.

[eternallyabsconding]

[Razor should meet Zagreus' dog back home, he's quite the specimen.]

I'm going to worry. A kid shouldn't be left out in the cold like this. Where are you going to go? You probably don't have anywhere to stay.

[lightningfang]

[He would love to. Unironically.]

Going back to woods. Like my home. [The thought of staying in this city for longer than he already has, of letting his guard down enough to sleep around a den of humans, sends a shiver up his spine.

... Or maybe that's just the frigid air.]

Lupical keeps me warm. [Granted, an entire pack is a lot more warmth than just one Rockruff.] And I keep her warm.

[eternallyabsconding]

That doesn't really sound sufficient to me, even if you like it that way. How about... Can you think of anything you need that could help you, at least? I might be able to get it for you.

[lightningfang]

[Razor waffles on the idea, turning the money over in his hands and looking to Pup for her professional opinion. Ultimately, he shoves the whole wad back at Zagreus.]

Meat. Potatoes? [More hesitation, then he's ready to admit to it.] And... more fur.

[eternallyabsconding]

Food and clothing. Alright, sounds like a plan. [Zagreus shoves the offered money into his pocket, and stands up, while gesturing for Razor to get up and follow him.] Shouldn't be too hard to find. You can choose what you need and I'll take care of the rest.

[lightningfang]

[Again, he hangs back despite the offer.]

Go inside..? [Sure, he's made his own shelters, and wandered around tents and awnings, but actually entering a building? With a bunch of humans inside and only one exit?

Despite Razor's anxiety, Pup gives an encouraging yip and trots over to Zagreus and Ena.

... Surely the three of them wouldn't lead him wrong, so for the time being, he yields control to Zagreus and slinks up beside him. Congrats on your new lost puppy, Zag.]

[eternallyabsconding]

[If this gets to the point where Zagreus has to ask Thanatos if they can keep him, I'll bust a gut laughing.]

What's your name, by the way? Do you have one? Mine's Zagreus, but if that's too tough you can call me Zag.

[lightningfang]

[Forgive Razor, he sometimes forgets people generally have pesky things like names.]

I am Razor. Zag, are you from Mondstadt? [He had said "one of us" earlier, right?]

[eternallyabsconding]

Mondstadt? No, never heard of it. [He pauses for a shot moment, then realizes what Razor meant by that.] When I said "one of us," I meant one of us Otherworlders. There are lots of people here in this world that are all refugees of other ones. I suspect our circumstances are the same.

[lightningfang]

Other worlds..?

[It seems he's now in the position of his friend the Traveler. He goes quiet again for a bit, thinking of and missing them.]

Does the... "Route" go home?

[eternallyabsconding]

I don't believe there's any kind of route home, sorry to say. From what I've heard, when we come and when we leave is entirely left up to the Fates. Nothing we can do about it.

[lightningfang]

Fate... [Fate gave him his wolf and his human lupicals, so surely something equally meaningful must be waiting here. He contemplates this for a moment, then straightens up and nods with trust and confidence to Zagreus.]

I'm ready, but Zag and Ena should eat now.

[eternallyabsconding]

Oh, you're right. I nearly forgot. [Oh hunger, such a bothersome thing. Zagreus wished he could go without, but alas, mortality.] Give me a sec, I need to buy another burger.