First Feather - [Video/Action for New Bark Town]

[charcoalfeather]

[Seems like it's a busy day for the network, and it wasn't about to stop just yet! The feed of the Pokegear's video setting flickers to life, showing a young face fixating on it with her wide, brown eyes. It's likely immediately obvious that this person is new to the world, as the snowy setting of New Bark town sits in the background visible behind her. ]

... O-okay, then that must mean...

[Rakka looks away for a moment, and the sounds of paper being flipped reaches the Pokegear. Looks like Rakka's found a bench to sit on while she slowly, carefully makes her way through her Trainer's Handbook. Flip, flip, oh.]

... So that means it has to be on now. [She says quietly, affirmingly. To herself. Okay, you can do this, Rakka. Just breath in...

Give her a second, she's nervous.]

H-hello? Can anyone hear me? [Dumb question, she's trying.] If anyone can hear this... I think I really need some help.

[Her voice trails away a bit, confused and worried.] My name is Rakka, and I'm a Haibane from Old Home, in the town of Glie? I... I was there a moment ago, and now I'm here in... Joh-to? A woman calling herself "Mom" pushed me out of a house, and wouldn't let me back in. A-and now I have this little ball that had a bird inside it!

[Everything blurs together as Rakka moves the screen until it focuses on... a disinterested Doduo, plodding around in the snow, both of its heads trying to snatch snowflakes out of the air.]

... I think she's a bird. [The view returns to Rakka. Her tone has equal parts wonder and anxiety.] But she's also a 'Pokemon' and it's so much bigger then the birds I've seen, and it walks around instead of just flying, and it has two heads...! And now... I'm all alone here.

[She's trying not to panic, oh she is. But it's plain-as-day that she's feeling the stress as she speaks up:]

If anyone can tell me the way to leave this place, or if you know Kana, Hikari, or Nemu... please tell me. I'd really appreciate it! [A slight nod and an added:] Thank you!

[... She doesn't know how to turn this off. Uh. Hang on. She'll get it eventually...]

Around New Bark Town.
[Rakka was positive she'd never been here before... yet, there were a number of similarities that she couldn't just ignore; they were literally standing all around her.

Windwills, turning ever so slightly in the breeze. There's one situated almost in the middle of town, and Rakka's almost instinctively drawn towards it. It's big, noticeable, and it's something she recognizes. Which is comforting because a LOT of things seem to be happening today, and they don't seem to be stopping. She reaches out to touch it, big mistake. Cold! Cold. But real all the same.

So that's where she decides to be right now, standing at the base of one of the windmills, rubbing her hands together and giving a jolting sneeze while she watches those giant blades turn.

It's boring, but something to focus on.]

Comments

[hashtagafreakingghost]

What? But there are so many questions that need answering and so many-

[oh. ohhhhhh. Oh.]

This is all really really knew for you and kind of freaky so I should probably just shut up, right.

[charcoalfeather]

[nodnod!!]

I-it's not like I don't want to think about it... but, maybe not right now?

[please and thank you]

[hashtagafreakingghost]

Yeah, of course, take time, adjust, not think about- things like that.

[...kind of a luxury she'd like, tbh, block out all the bad shit in her mind]

Won't happen again.

[charcoalfeather]

Okay. Thank you. [A little nod to that. Thank goodness, tbh. There's enough going on already that Rakka really doesn't need a mental meltdown on top of it.

...And before the awkward silence rears its ugly head like a sudden pokemon attack... a pokemon suddenly appears!

But it's Rakka's Doduo, so that's fine. It steps towards her, one head delightfully squawking at her, while the other watches Ashley. It's a new face!! who is this new face??]

[hashtagafreakingghost]

[A two-headed ostrich! Well! That's just the thing to cause Ashley to demonstrate her uncomfortable response to unfamiliar situations, that is to say, jump back and hold on to Agatha tighter and let out a small shriek.]

Oh my God what's that?!

[charcoalfeather]

[Surprise, Ashley! Actually, surprise for everyone, especially Rakka's Doduo who start flipping out. One head immediately tries to charge while the other is... just very distressed. So they're stuck in one spot, arguing with one another. And Rakka's jumped a little too, letting out a quietly startled cry.]

What? What? [/Distressed bird noises everywhere]

[hashtagafreakingghost]

[Well with one head looking aggressive, Agatha starts balling up her stubs and taking swings at the air, yelling angrily. Very intimidating, gal.

Ashley just gestures at Doduo with one hand.]

That! That- bird-thing, ohgod--

[charcoalfeather]

[A very intimidating candle that isn't getting much attention from the squabbling bird sisters. So... sorry?

Rakka looks where Ashley is gesturing, and there isn't anything behind her doduo is the-Oh!]

O-oh! I'm sorry, that's the Pokemon I was given!

[hashtagafreakingghost]

...That one? It- there are two heads!

[Yes Ashley everyone can see that.]

[charcoalfeather]

Umm... W-well, yeah...

[you'll hurt their feelings!!]

But they're nice! Honest!

[They only freaked Rakka out for a good... five minutes or so?]

[hashtagafreakingghost]

[She's trying...not to upset anyone...! But she's not used to two heads...!]

Th-they are? They...okay... Okay, as long as they don't- attack, or-

[charcoalfeather]

[And Kuki and Feza decide that now is a good time for more squawking. Rakkaaaa! We really don't know what to do right now!

Rakka, reacting, raises her hands, palms out, to... everyone. Everything.]

I-It's okay...! I promise they wont-

[It seems now Rakka's words will be show to be correct. As one head pulls them over to Rakka and decides that now is the time to nuzzle her trainer's face while the other keeps watch.

Don't worry, trainer. They are here for you.]

[hashtagafreakingghost]

[What a genuinely sweet and calming sight. As the double-headed Pokémon calms down, so does Ashley, just watching until the nuzzling continues.]

Oh... [Well.] Uh. S-sorry for...making it weird.

[charcoalfeather]

[This isn't exactly how Rakka wanted things to calm down, but. Heck, she'll take it. Even if she's getting little brown feathers in her mouth. Pff ppf, peh, peeh.]

No, no, I don't think you have to... [She starts to say around the bird heads trying to keep her safe from the modicum of actually visible threats.]

I-I mean, uh... [Welp. She's lost.] ...Thank you?

[hashtagafreakingghost]

[How amusing, the feathers in her mouth. It- Look-]

Let's just...start over. I- do they...have names?

[charcoalfeather]

[Very amusing to someone on the other side of it. Yeah. But the tension has, more then thankfully, subsided.]

Names? Umm... [Glances at both heads. Ashley's probably gonna see the steam rising from Rakka's ears while she thinks it over.

HMM...]

Kuki and... Feza?

[They seem alright with that.]

[hashtagafreakingghost]

[Well, neither name is one she recognizes, so.]

Okay. They sound nice. What do they mean?

[charcoalfeather]

[....Umm....]

"Air" and... "Feathers"?

[hashtagafreakingghost]

...Well, they're nice. And fitting.

[charcoalfeather]

...You think so?

[Please think so. She thought them up on the spot and feels quite embarrassed.]

[hashtagafreakingghost]

I do! They're sweet.

[...and besides, it's like naming a dog Fido in being on the nose, but there's nothing wrong with that.]

[charcoalfeather]

[Hopefully not.]

Well, uh, thank you. I guess I wanted to name them something that means something? [Even if it's so... literal. Hey, she was named after "falling".]

So... yeah.

[Shuffles her boots a little. This has been an astounding conversation she thinks.]

[hashtagafreakingghost]

I understand. Agatha's named after an author, so...

[...]

...Where...do you think you're headed after this? Down the path?

[charcoalfeather]

An author, like for books? That sounds so interesting!

[.... oh, right.]

You mean... oh, out of this town? [She pauses, then nods.] I... decided to go down the path leading to the next town. Someone who spoke to me on my pokegear said they would meet me there.

[It's the traveling part that's going to be the most difficult.]

[hashtagafreakingghost]

You've got someone meeting you? Huh. Well, that's pretty cool. And sweet of whoever it is, make sure you don't have to travel alone.

[Yeah, preaching to the choir here...]

...I'm waiting for someone, myself. Well, someone's Pokémon. Uh, he sent her to watch over me, so...staying here until she arrives.

[Which won't be until nightfall, unfortunately.]