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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[Contrary to her friendly and rather upbeat texts, Ashley still looks like she's been through the mental ringer, head supported on her knees on the bench she's set up shop at, all tired and subdued, any ounce of amusement being positively minimal. There is some though, so that's a victory. And at least she sounds a bit calmer.]

I'm from LA. [Give him some kind of reassurance-] This'll be our little secret. Swear.

A'ight. Feast your ganderbulbs, then.

[He lowers his shades down his nose and leans in so she can see.]

What's the verdict. Are they lustrous ruby orbs limpid as pools of, I dunno, Kool-Aid, or do I gotta find myself some new adjectives.

[A moment of silent judgment and...]

Well, jeez. Color me surprised. Red as red can be.

Yup, thought so.

[He slides his sunglasses back up and settles again. He's actually lying on his stomach on his bed already. It has been a very busy day facilitating fraught teenage reunions, don't judge his terminally-low-on-spoons ass.]

I have trouble with light sometimes, but that's probably less about my genes and more about my lifestyle.

Well, yeah, they kind of are...
Not that I'm scared of ghosts or anything??
Definitely not fuckin scared of ghosts.

[ So says Bakugou, the tough guy who refused to walk in front in a haunted house and still fell victim to every jump scare. ]

Pretty sure that makes whoever gave you it a total asshole, though. Like who the fuck does that.

[As long as there's no judgment for how she seems positively envious of his warm, comfy position. Litwick - who is still hanging out by her side, was she watching her texting, what a shameful little candle! - leans in a bit and Ashley shamelessly warms her fingers above the flame.]

Don't like the outdoors much? [A taut smile.] Same.

Ssssomething like that.

[But Ashley Williams has had enough of A Day without his telling her about Homestuck.]

Most of my hobbies mostly took place inside. Mixing music, drawing, darkroom shit...I guess the most sun I tended to get was up on the roof with my Bro.

[As long as he's not making fun of her, he can live knee-deep in denial forever.]

A kid told me she's a ghost and I didn't even register it until after. At least she doesn't look like a GHOST ghost. And she's friendly enough.

It still sucks. :/

[You are a good soul for waiting, Dave. A very good soul.]

Oh, like...watching the sunrise? How nice. [uh sure] That's really...cool, all that art. One of my friends ca- could draw really well. [She wavers.] What...what style do you do? Or...what kind of music? Photos?

[Dave isn't exactly what one might call perceptive--at least, not with people. But he's been trying this whole time to listen, to pay attention, so he catches it. He notices.

Let's go with music, then.]

Well, for music, I do a couple different things. Rap, obviously. I write my own, and most of them are sort of culturally relevant, social commentary type shit. But I'm an okay turntablist, too. Sometimes I'd mix my friends' more traditional stuff and send it back to see what they thought.

[He tricked all of them, made her think so many horrible things, played her like his own little puppet, and yet- and still--

Ashley tries to focus on what Dave's saying instead.]

Really? So you're all music people. That's so nice, common ground... I've never really listened to a lot of rap before, though.

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.

Aw, girl, you're missing out. I'd send you some good stuff, but I haven't gotten a handle on Johto's musical scene yet, and I don't have the equipment on me to drum something up myself.

--Oh, but if you ever run into someone on your Gear calling himself DJ Zack Attack? Definitely hit him up for some tunes and conversation. He's so fuckin' cute and funny, I love him.

Yeah, it looks pretty alright for a ghost... relatively speaking. Maybe this is some sort of sign that you're supposed to train yourself to get over being scared of ghosts??

... Was it really that bad where you were?

[As perceptive as she can be, reading people is still... a whole different skill, so looking at Ashley huddling over as she does, Ruby doesn't really see the more subtle signs of distress. But she still doesn't look all that good, so...

She reaches up, unclipping her hooded cape from her shoulders, and holds it out to her.]

Here. I think you need this more than I do.

[Try sleeping while you're being covered in snow with an electric sheep being your only heat source.

On that note...] Well, it bothered me really badly at first. I mean, my sister Mabel's not here. I had my Grunkle Stan for a while, but he left a few days ago... It's not all that bad since I've got a lot of good friends here already. And there's so much to explore!

You some kind of linguist, then?

I... DJ Zack Attack? [A subdued half-smile, a tiny...not-quite-laugh.] Sounds like a character. I guess I should expect that, being in like...a video game.

If you ever get set up with something, let me hear your music? I love seeing people create things.

VERY bad timing then. I'm NEVER going to be unafraid of ghost and ESPECIALLY monsters. Signs are bad and I'm ignoring them x(

It was...

[There aren't words to quantify the experience she's had. How much she wants to shut everything off and close her eyes to sleep without...without those gaunt faces staring at her through the darkness or the sounds of saw-blades roaring in her ears.

...But um, what's this? Ashley blinks in surprise and hesitantly takes hold of the cape, unaware.]

I...am cold, but...aren't you, too?

Um, no, not really- a writer.

[He starts to say something, maybe about how hard it is to do that while traveling, maybe about how his ill stylings will blow her mind, but for some reason, he stops. Instead he offers her a small, shy smile.]

Sure. Got any genre requests?

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.

[At least he had a wool blanket!]

O-oh. Your... Um, uncle? [Is she hearing that right?] I'm sorry, it must be rough, uh... Oh, I dunno, I'm just not the exploring type. ...Okay not really, just- not right now.

[Having just met Dave Strider and not used to his...particular brand of communication yet, she thinks nothing of it.]

Ummm... Something...sweet? Sweet and alternative-indie and... I kind of like a lot, though so...whatever's in the moment. I love anything with a piano baseline.

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