hashtagafreakingghost | 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.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Well, well. That's one utterly terrified-looking girl, isn't it. And honestly, Carmen's never been a huge fan of activating her own video function except in the most extenuating of circumstances, but the truth is, things don't get much more extenuating than something like this. So.

She gets to a quiet, secluded place and makes sure there's nothing identifying in her background — old habits die hard — and when she's ready she has her Porygon2 activate her video function, setting it to a private and encrypted channel. And thus she appears, red in her lipstick, coat, and hat with the brim pulled down over one eye, leaning a little intently toward the camera in a posture that affects calm, unruffled concern.]

I'm going to start by letting you know that this is a private channel. No one else on the network can eavesdrop in on this; for the time being, anything you say will stay between you, myself, and anyone within earshot on your end. You can use that knowledge as you see fit; it's only fair that you be aware of it.

You're about to get a lot of people turning up on this Gear to try to offer you help. Many of them you won't recognize; some of them you might. You're also almost certainly about to get a lot of very disjointed information all in a rush, which isn't exactly conducive to helping you make sense of what's just happened.

My name is Carmen Sandiego. I can see that this is both disorienting and alarming for you. So feel free to ask me whatever questions you like, here on this channel where it's just the two of us, and I'll do my best to answer them for you.

[On her end, Ashley's still at the bench she's taken up residency on, chin-on-knees. ...It is rather cold here, but that's kind of par for the course for her.]

You're the second person who's opened a...private channel. I... ...You all seem so used to this.

[There's an implicit question in that- has everyone been here for so long. Does this happen often. Why.]

Some of us have been here long enough to recognize newcomers when we see them. Though I'll admit most don't turn up quite so distraught as you seem to be.

You mentioned a ranger station. You've been in the Canadian woods?

[Getting covered in blood?]

Have they been helping you?

Yes, I was, um... They were supposed to. They have to finish, the... [...] I was supposed to go to the hospital, instead of wake up here. It's- been a rough night.

It sounds it. Can you look yourself over for me right now, and let me know if your injuries are still present? I'm happy to look away if you'd like to have privacy for that.

If you're still injured, we can suspend the conversation while I help you get to the nearest treatment facility, instead.

[She shakes her head.] It was just...a black eye. Some scrapes and cuts, and...rope...burns...

[Should she be disclosing this...? Her filter's shot.]

Whatever. It doesn't look like I was hurt at all now.

That happens sometimes, here. People brought here find their injuries inexplicably repaired upon arrival. Unfortunately, that's not a phenomenon that lasts; if you're injured from here on out, you'll have to heal from it the old-fashioned way.

Can you tell me why you were being interviewed by the rangers?

[...]

I'm not crazy. Okay? I swear, I'm telling the truth- My friends and I, we were stuck on this mountain. There were these monsters chasing us, and we almost- we almost didn't make it out, but...we blew up the lodge we were staying at, to get rid of them. The rangers said they- I mean, they picked up a bunch of...hurt teenagers who'd called for help earlier in the night, they had to get the full story. Especially since- since we- ...since not all of us made it off.

It's all right. I believe you.

[Regardless of whether or not she does, deep down, her expression stays steady and receptive. It's not as though people with wilder stories haven't shown up here before — and besides, no one in a panic like this girl's wants to be told they're making things up or lying, either way.]

I can also tell you that people who come here tend to be returned home to the exact moment they left — as though they'd never been gone in the first place. So if you're worried that someone's going to notice you're gone, or that you'll get in trouble for not being there...when you do go back, it'll be right back to that moment in the ranger's station. You won't have missed anything.

[That is the first thing that's brightened her mood since she got here, honestly.]

Really? You mean- my friends a-and my parents, they...won't be worried about me? I'll just wake up there, on... [She bites her lip.] ...Thank you. No one's mentioned that so far, I'm- it helps. ...As long as the sheriffs don't...try and pin a crime on us, but- I guess I...can't do anything about that right now.

They won't be aware there's been an absence. No time will have passed at all.

[Which is a slightly more diplomatic avenue, rather than just saying "nah, no one will have missed you".]

I won't tell you to put those past events behind you; I know that's well beyond "easier said than done". But focusing on the present moment for a while might do you some good.

So I just...acclimate myself here? How... How can everyone do that? Don't they worry about ever returning home?

[Thankfully she doesn't sound necessarily judgmental just tired and confused and...curious. Beyond curious.]

Oh, everyone thinks about it. I certainly do.

But I think most people grow to find that whether they worry or don't worry, it doesn't make much practical difference. So in the end, not worrying wins out over time.

Ha. Telling me not to worry...

[...]

Um, thank you? Just- so I don't forget, thank you, for...the reassurances and the information and all of this.

First 👻 Story [Video/Action for New Bark]

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