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

Action!

[yanginthere]

[ There's another trainer nearby that looks like she belongs here, save for maybe her badass aviator sunglasses. Not exactly something common around these parts. She stops nearby and gives the man a once-over and deciding that, yep, he's got to be in the same boat she is. ]

Looks like I'm not the only one new in town today. [ She gives him an easy smile at the small joke. The Growlithe prowling around her feet stops to glare up at the stranger, posed as if on the defensive. Yang notices this and looks down. ]

Hey c'mon, fella. Don't be rowdy.

Action!

[ferino]

[...is she a native? He takes in her weird dress with a raise of the eyebrow, though he's quick to catch when her lips begin moving. Another newcomer?

Well. Alright then. He barely blinks at the defensive Growlithe, not the least bit bothered by it, though the Chatot on his shoulders is puffing up, ready to fight back. Nic ignores that too. Instead, he lifts a hand... then realizes, if she's speaking to him, he probably can't sign at her. Annoying. When he does address her, his speech is rough and broken, but still understandable.]

New here too?

Re: Action!

[yanginthere]

[ There's something odd about the guy, but she just chalks it up to either not getting enough sleep, or disorientation like she experienced. Everyone's got to deal with this their own way.

Plus her attention is momentarily focused on that bird because she really would prefer not to have a battle. She wouldn't even know where to start with that. She could just put the Growlithe back in its ball but — well, that was weird, too.

Yang just picks up her canine companion and strokes its chest fur to soothe it. ] Yep! Just woke up a few hours ago. Trying to figure out where here is, and how to leave.

[ferino]

[Nicolas nods slowly, soaking in her words for a moment before he takes a glance around the area. She must've woken up around here too... Not that there are many houses. And the one he came out was locked.

Even more strange.]

Someone... says... we're stahk here.

[And with that, he points down to her dog, careful to keep his fingers a few inches away. Does it bite? It looks like it does.]

Does it fight?

[yanginthere]

[ The dog pokemon seems to be distracted by Yang's affections, but does eye that hand warily. There are no sudden movements to react to which is good. ]

Huh? Oh. Probably! [ Not the most reassuring of answers. ] I mean — not unless I tell him to. You don't have to worry about it.

I'm still trying to figure this whole thing out but from what I read he's going to be going with me cross-country to battle others just like him? [ A pause, Yang makes a face. ] Yeah. It's just as odd as I made it sound.

[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.