First 👻 Story [Video/Action for New Bark]

[hashtagafreakingghost]

[VIDEO]

--on't want to, oh my--

[Hello, there, world! You know how a camera looks when two people are fighting over it? ...Or, well, one person and one blob-like candle-thing, in this case. Point is, you do now; the lens is covered in little waxy marks, leaving the girl it's now focused on- the girl who keeps trying to snatch it back from the surprisingly nimble candle- in a light haze. Through the viewpoint, at least, emotionally she appears rather annoyed and frustrated.

Probably because of that Litwick urging her to do an impromptu vlog, huh.

Ashley's kneeling on the ground, her backpack open on her lap and her Trainer's Handbook gripped firmly - open, looks about halfway done - in on hand, as the other keeps swiping at the camera.]

Please give that back to me, you little-- [The angle evens out and Ashley's eyes go wide. Deer, headlights, hello.] It's on. Isn't it? [Bobbing, up and down.] Oh.

[Well. Let's just- ...keep staring straight ahead, okay, good job. A+ kid, gold star. Stage fright?]

I, um. Uh... Is...it broadcasting...? [Dumb question. ] Okay. I...uh- I'm not- ...this isn't anywhere near Canada, is it? Because. I read the- this. [She holds up the manual, a little dismally. Her tone of voice is frazzled, a little weak and helpless.] I know, it said um...New Bark Town, Johto? B- but...I'm just trying to figure out how I...got here. B-because no one's really...been forthcoming about that.

[Maybe she should broach this question carefully-]

And I really really would like to be sure if I'm going crazy or not, because there's a- a candle filming me, and I do not have blood on me and that is not at all what I remember, and I should get back t-to the ranger station because they might still need to- ask me questions- about...

[OH OKAY WOW NEVER MIND THEN

Ashley trails off as it seems her brain catches up with her mouth and oh boy that sure is something to say uh. She pales considerably.]

I- swear that's not what it- I- haven't um- killed...anyone...or...

[Either Litwick is going in for a dramatic close-up or actually wants to see if she's alright (jury's out on which one frankly) because the view of Ashley gets ever-so-slightly bigger- and when it's close enough she reaches out in one fluid motion and snaps it up with one more quick, muttered whimper:]

Sorry, bye.

[So. That's that, then.]


[ACTION FOR NEW BARK]

[If you happen to be around New Bark, you might find Ashley just kind of kneeling on the ground, around the houses, with her Litwick bouncing impatiently next to her. It doesn't look like she's in the mood to leave, not just yet, or. Even stand, really, she hasn't had a great time, lately.

...Though at some point she has decided to get herself up off the ground, because she's really had it with being all crouched in the snow and it KEEPS HAPPENING. Really she's so exhausted after the last...what, twelve hours? Thirteen? She'd kind of lost track, with all the bustling, questioning, waiting. Last she remembers, had...she finally fallen asleep? Waiting for the others to be done, the rhythmic ceiling fan, the distant sounds of the others being interviewed, the dim awareness of Emily glaring daggers at her every few minutes, the feeling of her cheek against Chris' shoulder...

She has to walk. To do something. Litwick trails along with her, pointing toward the trail, but Ashley ignores her insistent taps and pokes. She leaves a trail of footprints, occasionally rubbing her eyes with one hand, looking...rather exhausted, honestly.

There's nothing to do but read the handbook, so she finds a little bench and opens it and browses...and the PokéGear, at some point, she just kind of. Ran from that. Not her finest hour.]

Comments

[in4apounding]

Salutations, miss! I don't know where Canada is, but I'm pretty sure Johto isn't anywhere near there. No one knows how we got here or how to get back!

[Penny, please don't sound so cheerful about that.]

You're not going crazy, though! This place is just very strange. It's also VERY nice though, once you get used to it!

...were you hurt, before you arrived? Are you okay?

[PENNY THAT IS WHAT YOU SHOULD HAVE STARTED WITH-]

[hashtagafreakingghost]

[PLEASE DON'T SOUND SO CHEERFUL ABOUT THAT D:

At her current bench-perch, Ashley just stares in sad shock.]

N- ...yes, I was, b-but it wasn't- all that bad. What do you mean, we can't get back?

[in4apounding]

[Right, right, not everyone's instantly enamored of this place.]

Oh, sorry. People just sort of show up here, like you just did. No one really knows how, they just wake up in that house with that poor lady who says she's your mother.

[Who is, frankly, ridiculously nice and well-prepared for as confused as she seems to be.]

But no one knows how to get home, either. Apparently sometimes people just vanish, but sometimes they'll also reappear later with new memories from home? It's very strange, but not dangerous.

[hashtagafreakingghost]

They vanish, but come back? But...

[All of this sounds very... It takes her a moment to find a response.]

But I want to go home.

[...said response comes out a lot more small and childish than she'd intended, honestly, but it's been that sort of day.]

[in4apounding]

[Oh god she is messing this up abort abort-]

I'm sorry. There's no way to control when you'll leave. But, um. If it helps, once you do it'll be like no time passed at all. You'll be back right where you were.

[hashtagafreakingghost]

Someone told me. But... How do I know I'll be home for good? Get on with my life, and... There's no way to tell, at all? It's all been hard enough without...inter-dimensional abductions, or whatever this is.

[in4apounding]

Uh- from what I've heard, once you go back home you don't remember your time here until you come back?

[Which frankly worries the heck out of her if she lets herself dwell on it, but maybe it'll help here?]

[hashtagafreakingghost]

...I don't know if that's any more reassuring...

Ohhh, I- I'm sorry, this is just all so much for me to take in, all I wanted to do was go home and find some way to- to forget about all the horrible things that happened to me, but now I'm here, so far from my friends and family...

[in4apounding]

No, I'm sorry! You don't have to apologize for anything!

[She is a LOT worse at this than she thought.]

Your friends might show up soon! I was the only one here from my world when I arrived, and two people from home just arrived today!

[hashtagafreakingghost]

They... Oh.

[That does...kind of set her a bit at ease. But she bites her lip.]

I wish they were here now.

[in4apounding]

I know how you feel.

...What are they like? Your friends.

[hashtagafreakingghost]

[...]

Honestly? A lot of them are kind of assholes. But, I... I think I like them that way. The strangest mix of...jerks and noble people who are usually...really great friends.

[Everything that Josh decided to be aside.]

[in4apounding]

[Oh, what's a little assault and psychological torture between friends.]

You like them even though they're jerks?

[Not something that she can quite fit into the same mental box as 'friend'.]

...is that like how friends can fight, but still be friends?

[Or it's a weird Strider-ism type of thing and 'asshole' is being used ironically, that's all she can figure.]

[hashtagafreakingghost]

[Oh, she's. Confused. ...Ashley's starting to get the idea that the person she's talking to is what they call in the Biz a "Cinnamon Roll."

It makes her almost smile.] Kind of. Like... Emily- [......put her in the position of almost being killed by a wendigo uh- Ashley stops to consider.] We all um...tease each other? Kind of harshly, sometimes. And we fight. We really fight. But-

...I can only speak for myself, but at the end of the day, I'd still like to see their faces.

[She really means that. Even Josh. Less she thinks about that one the better, though.]

Things've gotten...complicated. But I still... They're all important to me. Does that make sense?

[in4apounding]

[All that's missing is the cream-cheese frosting.]

I think so, yes. It's sort of like you're a team, right? Only closer.

[hashtagafreakingghost]

A team...? Like...a sports team...? I...guess. I mean, we're...I've known some of them for so long, so...yes, closer.

[...]

Mostly. Like I said, there- complicated things, lately.

[in4apounding]

I was thinking of teams of Huntsmen and Huntress trainees, but sports teams work too!

...was there a big fight? I'm sorry.

[hashtagafreakingghost]

[Huntsmen and Huntresses...? Oh well, she can't focus on that right now.]

...You could say that. I don't really...want to get into it, sorry.

[in4apounding]

[Until Dawn would've been a much different game on Remnant.]

No, it's okay! I'm sorry, I should've known it would be upsetting.

[She's really getting a taste of her own foot today. It's not fun.]

...what kind of starter were you given? You said it looks like a candle, right?

[When in doubt, change subjects.]

[hashtagafreakingghost]

[An amazing relief. A fantastic relief.]

Yeah. She's...a Litwick, apparently? Ghost and fire.

[in4apounding]

I don't think I've heard of that one, can I see it?

You're lucky to get a fire type right away, though. Traveling in the cold like this without one can be rough!

[hashtagafreakingghost]

Um, sure... [She raises up her little candle. Litwick waves. Not making her trainer upset, are you?]

Really wish I didn't have to go anywhere in the cold anyway, but...small victories, I suppose.

[in4apounding]

Oh, how cute!

[For a candle, anyway?]

You'd think at this point someone would have built some kind of inn or at least a shelter in New Bark. They don't seem to want anyone to stay there, though.

[A pause, considering something for a moment.]

...A friend of mine might have a way you could at least get to Cherrygrove faster, without having to walk. Do you want me to see if he could get you a lift?

[hashtagafreakingghost]

[Well, the candle sure takes this well. She puffs up, pleased.]

Faster? ...How? I- I don't want to do anything with like, magic or- anything like that.

[in4apounding]

...does being teleported by a Psychic Pokémon count as magic? Because I'm SURE there's science behind it that I just don't understand.