FILE 1 | [network/action for New Bark Town] adjusting to a new UI

[gainedlove]

[NETWORK]

[Frisk frowns into the camera, sitting a ways away from Elm's lab with their backpack in their lap and a worried looking Skiddo hovering over their shoulder. They chew on their lip and look back in the direction of Mom's house before finally speaking up.]

Does anyone know where Mount Ebott is? I...I think I'm lost.

Mom? If you're here, I'm by a lab right now...I made a new friend! His name's Buddy, lemme show you--

[The feed swings around, and now you all have a...very close up view of the Skiddo's face. It sneezes on the lens.]

He's really nice! I think you'll like him, too. He doesn't say a whole lot, though.

Um, okay, bye!

[ACTION]

[Frisk shuts off the feed, and slumps forward over their backpack, the cheerful facade falling away into worry. Buddy bleats and nudges their cheek, but Frisk doesn't respond outside of reaching up a hand to pet the Pokemon.]

[This is really bad. Nothing like this has ever happened before...it doesn't feel like a RESET, but Frisk can't think of anything else that would pull them away like this. And on top of that...]

[Again, Frisk closes their eyes and turns their mental focus inward, reaching and reaching and trying...but they're alone. Nobody came.]

[Frisk sniffles, and buries their face in their arms.]

...I wanna go home...

Comments

action

[gainedlove]

[Frisk squeaks a little and jerks their head up--no actual tears, thankfully, though it looks like a few might have started without the distraction. They stare at the candy bar, then Mafuyu, then back to the candy bar...]

[...and very slowly reach forward to take it.]

Um...thank you. What's your name?

[dashdash]

[Mafuyu lets the candy bar go, freeing up her hands to pull several Pokeballs from her pockets.]

Mafuyu Kurosaki! What's your name? And your Pokemon's name? I have a couple too--

[And she releases them one by one-- a Snubbull, a Rattata, Sentret, Meowth-- with no consideration that just maybe monsters popping out of nowhere might scare some people]

This is Burun! Kora, and Otari! And Nyatto!

[gainedlove]

My name's Frisk, an' he's Buddy! Are you from--

[The rest of the question is cut off by the appearance of the little gaggle of Pokemon. It's a little startling, yes, but not frightening--at least for Frisk.]

Ohh! They're so cute! Hello, everyone!

[Frisk hops off the bench and holds out a hand to Mafuyu's team, while Buddy bleats and shuffles nervously around up on the bench.]

[dashdash]

Wah~ Buddy!

[She likes that name. Nothing says "you're my friend!" like calling someone friend. If she'd given more consideration to naming her Pokemon nice things, they might not have scattered the moment they were all released, her Snubbull staying by her feet, Rattata sniffing at Frisk's shoes, Sentret taking refuge by the quiet Skiddo, and Meowth... has an eye on that candy wrapper glinting in the sun.]

Your Buddy's pretty cute too! If he grows up big and strong, looks like you could ride him into battle!

[If anything, she'd want one just to be able to ride and clear the routes faster, but that's wishful thinking until she can find one on her own, or make enough to afford a bike.]

[gainedlove]

[Well, that brave little Rattata is certainly getting a nice pat on the head! Buddy startles a little when Otari jumps up, but after a moment steps a little closer and sniffs curiously at her.]

He's super duper cute! The cutest!

[The idea that Buddy could grow big enough to carry them make's Frisk's eyes go wide, and they gasp with delight.]

You really think he can get that big?

[dashdash]

Yeah! I bet he will!

[As in, she has no idea whether it will, as most of the starting Pokemon she's seen are small and manageable enough for new trainers to handle with ease. But she's also seen a Donphan, and has heard mentions of other Pokemon as tall as mountains, so there's no reason Buddy can't grow to the size of mountains. Frisk is pretty small too, so riding into battle is very well within reach.]

The secret is eating lots! And sleeping lots! I think if you break bones, they're supposed to grow back stronger or longer or something too!

[gainedlove]

[Okay, Frisk was totally on board until that last bit MAFUYU WHAT THE HECK.]

What?! I don't want him t' break his bones! That's bad!

[dashdash]

[Hey, she's not endorsing it, she's just saying that it works! Oblivious to Frisks' reasonable concern over the idea, Mafuyu just laughs it off.]

Then that just leaves food, rest, and exercise. So instead of sulking around town, there's plenty of routes outside for you two to run around on, lots of new Pokemon and all that. This town gets dull fast, you'll see.

[gainedlove]

Mmm...it does sound fun! But I gotta wait for mom first...