01. Video | New Bark Town

[oubliet]

[there's a face under the hat-produced shadow and long blond bangs on the screen. the face of a young man, to be precise--about 18 years old, malnourished-looking with eyes like he doesn't know what sleep is. he turns his head a couple of ways like he's trying to find the best angle to listen to the 'Gear from, concentrating.

finally, he shakes his head with a sadly disapproving look and talks to someone offscreen.]

No. I can't hear them the right way like this, either. The way that I think I hear you.

I hear them like people, but it's--like people talking. I see them, too. Does that mean it's working?

[his attention is still offscreen. beat. and then he smiles, a little.]

Thank you. I'm sorry. This is still interesting.

[now he looks at the 'Gear properly, expression cleared and voice somewhat louder and lighter.]

Er--my name is Cole. I don't know if I am supposed to say anything. [glances into a corner.] She--told me that if I used this, then I could hear more than I could without it.

How do you do?

[that's what you say when you're testing the waters, right? he doesn't have the means to do anything much more than that with whatever can hear him back.]

Comments

[defyingfrigidity]

Yes, you're right. Her species is called "Gardevoir". But she's still the same Frigga I first met out in the forest.

[In the face of Cole's curiosity and his companion's excitement, Frigga looks a bit shy, but even so, she smiles and waves.]

I don't hear her thoughts as much as I did when she was younger, no. But I can still... feel things, whenever she's close by. I feel much calmer.

[Perhaps that's why she hasn't had an anxiety spell outside of her first day in Johto...]

[oubliet]

[the Ralts waves too, like a schoolgirl spotting someone from the top of a slide. also, another smile--also good!]

She makes you feel "better".

["backwards" but just as good. the wonder is back, burying a strain of something weirder that's... probably envy.]

That's wonderful...

[defyingfrigidity]

It is, isn't it?

All the pokemon here, psychic or not... they care a lot about their trainers. You'll see when you find more friends of your own.

[oubliet]

I would like to. [he nods.] I'll try... to be a good friend to them, too.

[more new friends. he has been taken quickly and unexpectedly from the most friends he's ever had... but there must be good to be had here, too.

and along with it, he'll learn to be a "person" even faster, whether he wanted it now and like this or not.]

Thank you for talking to me--this is different, but... I know more now. More than I did, and it's-- still strange, but not bad. If I don't go home soon, I can still stay here and learn.

[a tongue-tied way of saying it, but what she's told him and shown him gives him things to admire and look forward to. he's not out of questions, but he's still happy for this conversation.]

[defyingfrigidity]

Something tells me you'll be a very good friend.

[Ralts are supposed to be good at reading humans. If this boy's Ralts is attached to him like that already, then there's nothing to worry about.]

And you're quite welcome! I was in your shoes once, lost and confused after just waking up in this land. Now that I know more about the world and pokemon, it's only fair that I help those who are new here.