hashtagafreakingghost | First 👻 Story [Video/Action for New Bark]

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First 👻 Story [Video/Action for New Bark]

[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.]

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[There's a girl just a bench away, skimming through text in the handbook, just like Ashley does. She's just...far louder than the other girl.]

Rules? There are rules? I thought it's supposed to be an adventure...rules are boring, we should be able to do everything freely—HEY!

[Igglybuff uses pound. It's super effective!]

Okay, okay, I get it. I'll read it all...!

[But before she gets immersed in all these rules and tips, she notices Ashley holding the same book.]

Oh, hey! You must be new just like me, am I right? Have you read it already?

[It's a little hard to concentrate on the words she's reading with the louder, younger girl- well, aruging with her Pokémon, frankly. Still, she flicks through the handbook, focuses as much as she can, until the loud call draws her attention.

...Is- oh dear. She hasn't really. Talked to anyone in person here? Uh-

Kaori used Disarming Voice!

There is no way to evade.

Ashley slowly raises her eyes.] Y...es? [...] Yeah, I- ...I've ready through it uh...twice now.

[Calm down.]

T-Twice? Already?!

[She never considered her a slow reader, but now, that's impressive. Moving closer, Kaori wants to lean in to have a closer look and make sure that their copies are the same. And they indeed are which makes her blink. She expected Ashley to possess an abridged version or something.]

Maybe I'll just skip the rules and read the ti—

[This time she's faster and blocks Igglybuff's pound.]

I get it, I get it... [She turns her gaze back to Ashley.] So, what's your name? I'm Kaori!

[Seeing Kaori's cute little pink puff ball give her the one-two punch kind of makes Ashley start to appreciate that her weird little creature just seems content to poke her. ...For now. Litwick peers over at Igglybuff, so maybe she's trying to learn a thing or two.]

There's not much else to do but read it anyway. [It's nothing that fancy, so she thinks-] Uh, I mean, it's Ashley. Kaori is a really pretty name.

[And so much easier to pronounce than the other Japanese-sounding name she's heard so far, apologies Tsukiyama.]

Is there really not much else to do, though...? [Her eyes are shining which basically means she has some idea...run Ashley, run while you can.] Just look at this!

[She hasn't been feeling like reading the rules, but the PokéGear has been thoroughly examined already.]

So many places to see! Isn't it great?!

[Speaking of pronunciation, though...she has to repeat Ashley's name a few times until she finally gets it right (fairly).]

Yours really nice too, I think!

[Well, Ashley has learned that Kaori is about three levels more excitable than an an hour and a half of knocked-out-non-sleep can supply. She wilts ever-so-slightly.]
Thank...you...

[In contrast, she's only used the PokéGear for...well, some answering of messages, talking to people. And that initial SNAFU. However, the book does have a lot of base descriptions.]

But- I- I mean, I have seen a lot of...options, but- there's so much walking and nowhere to rest and isn't it all just...a little overwhelming? In this brand new place with all these creatures, and everyone expects us to make grand journeys- it's just so much.

Overwhelming? Yeah, I guess it can be. But!

[She's stretching her arms up and taking a deep breath. A short speech is coming...]

Sitting here and reading rules won't get us anywhere, we have to experience it ourselves! It may be overwhelming at first, but isn't it exciting at the same time? All those places, people, and of course...

[Kaori's Igglybuff ends up clasped with her hands as she lifts her up.]

Yours really adorable, too! Is that a real flame...?

[Maybe normally a spark of enthusiasm would rise in Ashley- it's hard to tell, honestly, how would she react to PokéWorld without that mound of trauma?- But right now she's just...a little intimidated.

Litwick meanwhile has started soaking in the attention with a triumphant smile.]

Ye...ah... It's warm like a real flame, at least. Rather not, um, burn myself to double-check-

[Awkwardly shrugging one shoulder.]

But like- I don't really want to go out and...experience all this or have an adventure. At least not now. Or any time soon.

[Kaori will double-check that for you, Ashley.

Her finger is hovering up the flame on top of Litwick's head at least not until she burns the skin of the tip of her finger a little which she quickly puts in her mouth.]

Amazing...you'll always have it warm!

[Apparently, Igglybuff tries to mimic what Kaori has just done...with the same result.]

So...your plan is to stay here for the time being? Didn't that woman calling herself "Mom" kick you out from the house?

[Holy crap, girl, why did you just do that. Ashley's eyes just go wide at the x2 Burn Combo. Litwick looks vaguely impressed, you have moxie, human and Igglybuff.]

Small victories... But, no, if I could I would, but everyone's telling me there's nowhere to stay or sleep in this town. My plan's to get to the next city over and recoop there, but I'm not gonna be happy about it.

[She was really curious if it really works, okay...]

Better than nothing, I think! And sounds like a good plan...I might do the same. I mean, I heard that you can take a ferry and travel to another land, but I'd like to see what's going on here first.

[After a longer pause, she adds:]

"That's the secret to life...replace one worry with another..."

[Ashley regards her curiously.]

That's...a really clever thing to say. Not sure if I could ever accomplish it, but- who said it? A novelist, philosopher?

I can't shake off the feeling that some people who arrive here think like that. Well, something along those lines...

[The clarification whether she belongs to that group never comes, though.]

Does the name Charlie Brown ring a bell?

Oh!

[A baffled little smile.]

It... Yes, it does, definitely. I forget how...insightful Charles Schultz was.

Yep! He got that right...well, not only that...but I'm glad you know him, though!

It looks like our biggest problem for now is finding a place to sleep, which isn't really that bad...

[What is she trying to say is that positive attitude is the key...]

Well, you...

[Huh. Huh, that. Is kind of true? She has a lot to worry about outside this place, but everything's on hold, apparently. A lot to work through and stop being fucked up about, but...]

...it really isn't. It's still something, but... It's not as bad as it could be.

So... I take it you're going to keep on traveling as much as you can?

[Even if everything wasn't on hold, there's no known way out. Dread one thing at a time.]

Exactly! I feel like staying at just one place would be...a waste? Maybe it's not the best word, but there's so much to see...and so many tunes to hear! I have absolutely no idea how is it done but music playing all time is such a great thing...

[She really doesn't need much...]

["Dread one thing at a time" that sounds like a fun idea, if only she could follow through on it.]

You like the constant low quality soundtrack?

[The question surprises her a little; sure, the quality leaves much to be desired and it probably can't even be compared to classics, but Kaori just shrugs.]

I like the idea that the music is everywhere you go. It's like that almost everywhere, we just don't notice it...or maybe hear it would be more accurate.

If I had my violin, I'd play 'em all!

Ohhh, it's 'cause you play an instrument... I don't know, I just think it might be hard to sleep, but I guess maybe it'll grow on me?

Yep! I wonder if I can get another one somewhere at least...

[She even takes a quick look around but there are no shops around, not to mention music shop in particular.]

You've got a point...

[It's fairly loud, even in the town, after all.]

A few first nights may be sleepless...mom didn't give us ear plugs, either.

...No sleep? [Ashley can just feel the bags under her eyes expanding already...] Oh. Yay. That sounds...horrible, actually.

You haven't had enough sleep lately, have you?

[There's no hiding it.]

Did something happen when you arrived?

I just- it's been busy back home. I haven't had time to- to get some rest.

[Telling a few people on the network is one thing. In-person?]

I see, I see.

[Igglybuff, who has been watching both Ashley and Litwick blinks when she hears something about rest. The next moment she jumps right onto Ashley's knees and curtsies before she starts singing.]

Huh? It sounds really nice...

First 👻 Story [Video/Action for New Bark]

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