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.]

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[Well, that's. Probably a concern? He thinks it's probably a concern, but it takes him a moment of running it through the "would Kaneki-kun find this really really sad if he heard this girl talking like this" filter to work it out - normally, his urge is to consider it more or less all right as long as no one is, you know, actually bleeding or has an arm off or something but right, right, psychological trauma is a thing.

...This man is a social worker. Who let him be a social worker.]

My name is Tsukiyama Shuu - just 'Tsukiyama' is fine. I'm one who was brought here, much like yourself, though I've been here for quite some time.

And yourself...?

Ashley. Ashley, um, Williams.

[Since he gave his full name. And that's just enough to distract her from All the Everything because-] Could...you say that again? I, uh...can't really. Pronounce that well.

It's my pleasure, then, Miss Williams.

...And it's Tsukiyama. Don't worry, though! I'm sure you'll get it eventually - you're from Canada, n'est-ce pas? Or somewhere near there?

I'm...no. I was visiting. I'm from LA. In California, since...it doesn't sound like you're from America.

Tokyo, actually. I have some idea of American geography, but it's not as good as I'd like; I appreciate the explanation.

[And he does, from the sound of it; it's not patronizing, anyway.]

You...ran into some trouble, though, it sounds like?

Yes, but- the rangers didn't believe us when we told them, it... [A very heavy sigh.] Oh, why not? Yes. We ran into a lot of trouble. I spent the night getting knocked out and tied up and chased by these...flesh-eating monsters called wendigos.

[...Oh. Well, that's, uh...

...there is an irony here]

Ah...I see.

[He sounds surprised, surely, but...he doesn't sound like he disbelieves her, either.]

You'll find that there are several of us who are more willing to believe things like that here, mademoiselle - many won't, granted, but several of us have had some strange experiences of our own.

So while I won't say I'm familiar with what you're talking about, exactly, I'm not going to say I don't believe you, either.

[Perhaps one day, Ashley will learn some Things and she will look back at this moment and laugh.

Probably not, but, you know, it's a possibility!

Either way, she seems...well, kind of surprised right back.]

You think I'm telling the truth...? Oh. Um. Well, I didn't really expect that. Uh...thanks. Tsu- uh, sir.

[SHE. she didn't try, she's very tired.]

Guess I can't go around yelling about...all of that and ghosts and- stuff, though. Even if candles talking and walking around is a regular occurrence, the occult and supernatural still will get people rolling their eyes. Typical. [Candle Noises-] Yes, I know, you're not a candle, you're a Litwick.

...Things are a little different in the version of Tokyo that I'm accustomed to, let's put it that way.

[Not that he seems too inclined to elaborate.]

At the very least the ghosts shouldn't be too much of a concern...? Many of the Pokémon here seem to be, at least, so denying that they exist would be a little ridiculous, c'est vrai?

[...Well she wants to ask, but- she just met this nice man and that'd be incredibly mean and also she doesn't want to hear any more horrible things? Which she is inclined to believe as the baseline for different so let's just move on.]

I can tell that at least. Apparently she's one. [Jerks a finger at Litwick.] Yippee for me.

One of my favorites is as well, actually, though it's a bit harder to tell just by looking at him. As long as you avoid the more mischievous ones you should be fine - the...Gastly line in particular, I think it is? They're quite font of playing tricks on people. But most of them aren't so bad, otherwise.

Gastly? That sounds...well, aptly named, if what you're saying's correct.

...Which I have no reason to believe it's not! You've been nothing but nice and helpful and I- ...it's been a long day and I haven't slept in twenty-four hours.

[Well.]

Unless you count those times I was knocked out.

[...Dude.]

...Please get some sleep sometime soon, mademoiselle.

[Just. Rubbing the bridge between her thumb and index finger.]

Mmn. Yes. Good plan. Even with the snow.

First 👻 Story [Video/Action for New Bark]

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