one. [text / action]

[ferino]

[There are a few solid things about this world that Nicolas has declared as fact--the neighborhood trainers are pains in the ass, not enough places have nice showers, phones suck, and he's fucking lost. He looks annoyed at best when he finally works to turn on the gear, frowning at it.

Then there's just a few solid moments of him frowning, a Chatot perched on his shoulder chirping away, as he tries to work it. He just looks confused.

And then abruptly, the image disappears. (He finally figured out how to text. Yippee.)]

how do you leave tihs place?

i have
things to do
at home

where the exit
?

who's bird is this
it wild?

[It looks terrible. But you know what? Typing is enough of a pain. But to Nic, it'll do.

For anyone in New Bark Town, he stands there, staring with a dull look at the gear. It's a little odd, this tall, with a tiny kid's backpack on one shoulder. He feels almost like a dad being here... looking around as if trying to decide where to go first.]

Comments

[ferino]

[Well, that works. It seems calm, despite being strange, and Nicolas accepts it for what it is. He's seen some weird things, he can try to just deal with them.

His eyes dart back to her, and there's just a sigh.]

Well.... no use stayin' here. [He points to the trail.] They said try the gurass. Fightin' and... campin'? Bullshit like that.

[yanginthere]

[ Yang took off her shades and tucked them into her jacket pocket, revealing skeptical eyes that followed the line of his gesturing. ] Yeaaah, she mentioned that.

I'm not a fan of heading into the woods, unarmed, with no idea what I'm up against, you know? [ Everyone else may have seen it as a cozy walk in the park from here to the next town, but Yang's instincts were tuned to greater dangers lurking in an unsuspecting treeline like that one. ]

[ferino]

[She has a point, but Nicolas isn't worried. He glances over at the bird, who's claws pinch against him in... solidarity? Is that what that means? Its wings flutter a little.

So Nic just shrugs.]

I think we will be fine. Nothihn' here anyway.

[yanginthere]

Maybe... [ Yang does take a look over at the bird, just now realizing something clearly very important about it that she missed on first glance. ]

Oh my god, is that bird's head shaped like a musical note? [ Deep breath. ] That's adorable! What's its name?

[ferino]

[Adorable? This thing? Nic looks at it, but then shrugs again. She screeches out a very high-pitched Chatooooot! in frustration at his movements, and then bumps her head against his.]

Dunno. I just call her 'bird'. Seems noisy.

[yanginthere]

[ Yang is just brave enough, or dumb enough, to reach her hand out slowly so the guy's feathered companion can take a peek — or a peck — at her bare fingertips. ]

Aw, just 'bird'? That's not much of a name. [ Literally no one asked her. And she hasn't even named her own dog, so...? ]

[ferino]

[Bird works for him. The Chatot doesn't seem too bothered by it, which suits Nic just fine. He doesn't bother asking her if she's named her dog, because frankly? Doesn't care. So instead, he points to the trail.]

Le'z go.

[yanginthere]

[ She blinked and followed the line of the man's pointing. Yang then took her hand back and shook her head. ] Hang on a sec. We can't be the only ones that woke up here, right? Have you seen any other girls besides me?

[ After all, given the circumstances of her "kidnapping", she held on to the hope that familiar faces were nearby. If not captured, then here for her rescue. ]

[ferino]

Jus' the lady in d'ere. [And with that, he points behind him to the house he came from.] I heard mor' people in th' other cities.

[Bringing his hand back, he crosses his arms. He has half a mind to leave her.

But the bird wanted pets! His Chatot flaps his wings and hops down to stand on his arm, leaning forward. Love me! she calls out.]

...it likes you.

[yanginthere]

[ Yang nearly twitches, but she doesn't need to look back to know who he was implying, or where she was. Stupid fake "mother" figures. It really gets under her skin.

The tension melts when the bird pipes up, though, and Yang giggles once more. ] Aww, it does! [ Her Growlithe ... growls, faintly. She glances down. ] Oh hush! It's not a threat.

[ She smirks back up at the Chatot's owner. ] Sorry, I don't really know what's gotten into him. Maybe he's on edge about all this, too.

[ Another look to the side. ] Can you just sit, or— oh, you're sitting. Hey! You're trained after all. Look at that.