1st Zapfish [Video, New Bark Town]

[agent3]

H...H'llo?

[The voice that comes from the video (all it shows is the dark blue fabric of a vest) is shaky, small, and afraid - but not the kind of fear that one would associate with a voice like that. It's a raw, primal fear, a fear of change, a fear of the unknown. There's a breath, and an Inkay settles into view, lifting up the 'gear to show the face of the speaker. It's a teenage girl, yes, but small, with big blue eyes and - weirdly enough - long sky-blue hair in twintails. The fear in her voice matches the fear in her expression, but she does take a moment to look at the Pokemon, give it a twitchy smile, and pat it once on the head.]

Thanks. [Now, back to the 'gear.] Somethin'...wrong. 'M not...can't...

[Her mouth moves, but no words come out, and she shakes her head. It's so hard to explain what should be natural.]

'S only...humans here? 'N these squids? No...Inklings?

[The stress she puts on that word is obvious - she needs an answer.]

Comments

video;

[ruinimpendent]

...Only humans and beasts, I am afraid. It is... disturbing.

[ His voice is quiet, trying to be calm. Somebody who seems still young, but having their species altered? Though he's not heard of Inklings. ]

[Video]

[agent3]

[It is so jarring to actually get a response, let alone from someone who also finds it upsetting that there's nothing much familiar in this place. She holds the Inkay a little tighter, as if it will keep her grounded.]

No Inklings at all? None...none?

video

[bloodisthicker]

[what the fuck why is it happening more than once. at least it's.... less straight up depressing than the sad ghost person.]

Well... yes. There's more than just squids, but... if you weren't human before you got here, you end up as one, apparently. I met someone a few weeks ago who was in a similar situation as you, so if nothing else, you're at least not alone in that regard.

[Video]

[agent3]

[You would be surprised at how many worlds out there are populated by beings other than humans.

She perks up at that last bit, though.] Not human...Inkling, then?

[Is it someone from home?]

[Video]

[bloodisthicker]

[...is it rude to ask what the fuck an inkling is...]

No, I believe they said they were a ghost...? I didn't really ask for details about it.

Re: [Video]

[agent3]

[Well I mean...you need to know, right...

She jerks her head back a little, an eyebrow raised.] Ghost...? Not real, though.

[Video]

[bloodisthicker]

...They might have been a spirit beforehand? I didn't ask, but they really did seem like they were having a difficult time.

[Video]

[agent3]

Still not real.

[Says the girl who is literally an evolved squid.]

But I'll ask. If I see 'em.

video

[veggie_vamp]

Hiii! I love your hair!

[Wave-wave.]

Technically, we all get turned into humans!

[Video]

[agent3]

["Hair"? That's what this stuff is called? She'd tried touching it earlier, but the far-too-thin strands sent shivers down her back. It's hard enough to deal with it flying everywhere at the slightest movement or breeze.]

...Why all humans? Doesn't make sense...

[Video]

[veggie_vamp]

I don't get it either, but you'll get used to it after a while!

[Video]

[agent3]

[Thida makes a face and almost hunches in on herself.]

Don't...wanna be used to it.

[Video]

[veggie_vamp]

Awwww... I'm sorry! But you'll make a ton of friends here and have a good time! I know it!

[Video]

[agent3]

Mmmmmmmn...

[Friends? She's doubtful of that. Have a good time? How can you even have a good time as a human? They couldn't even produce ink. She presses her face into the Inkay's mantle, the Pokemon not seeming to mind at all.]

...How?

audio;

[notvaljean]

Hey, whoah, it's okay.

[Jean is choosing to wisely use the audio feature, since his Voltorb has a tendency to shove his face into the screen and Jean thinks that might startle this girl. She seems edgy enough already.]

It's pretty weird here at first, isn't it?

[Video]

[agent3]

[She's not quite used to the feature on the 'gear, so for now Jean is going to have to deal with video feed. She definitely perks up at his question and nods vehemently.]

Real weird...'s not right. 'Cept for the squid.

[The Inkay is perfectly fine, it's everything else that's freaked her out.]

audio;

[notvaljean]

Yeah? That's your... squid? Is that what they're called? Anyway, he's a Pokemon.

[Someone comes from a world that doesn't know oceans, and has no idea what a squid is.]

[Video]

[agent3]

Definitely a squid.

[She is not the seafaring type, but she knows a squid when she sees one. Also,] 'S a girl...Pokemon-squid.

audio;

[notvaljean]

[Okay, so that thing is a squid. Good to know. If Jean can accept giant, sentient plastic balls that like to shock everyone in sight, he can accept triangle-shaped things with lots of legs.]

Oh, okay. With some of the Pokemon it's hard to tell. Does she have a name yet?

[It seems like the girl is calming down a little, which was the goal here in the first place.]

[Video]

[agent3]

...Mmmm.

[Thida looks down at the Inkay, her brow furrowed. A name...yeah, of course a squid would need a name, but all this creature has said so far is "Inkay", and variations of it. That can't be its name.]

Mmmmm...my...ika...

[The Inkay perks up, the lights on its mantle glowing softly. No hypnotics going on here, just a slight expression of approval.]

Maika?

Inkaaaay!

[She looks back to the camera.] 'S Maika!

[video]

[purramedic]

[Oh, boy. This girl looks pretty upset -- not that he can blame her. Anders will try to tread carefully and offer what support he can.]

There are only humans and Pokemon, far as I can tell. [He hasn't personally heard of any other races being brought here, so he hasn't really given it much thought.]

It's frightening at first, being here, but nothing is going to hurt you. You've made friends with that little creature, yes?

[Video]

[agent3]

[She frowns. Everyone has told her the same thing, and it is sorely disappointing. She holds the Inkay a little tighter. It snuggles reassuringly back into her, so yes, in a way, they are already friends.]

Not scared'a bein' hurt.

[purramedic]

I see... [Maybe if he had more experience, he would know what to offer right away. As it is, he's still trying to gain his own footing.]

Is there anything I can help you with? I admit I haven't been here but a couple of weeks, and I am still adjusting, myself. It takes some getting used to.

[agent3]

[There's a decent pause in between his question and her answer as she thinks it over.]

...Why...'re we humans here? Can't just be us?

[purramedic]

You're not a human?

[That's... that actually might explain some things. And he thought he had it bad.]

I'm afraid I don't know the answer to that. I've always been human, but I lost part of what made me... myself when I came here, too. There's no explanation, from what I understand. It is just what happens.

I am sorry. It must be very disorienting for you.