shotlocking | video/action

[ Hello, Johto, you've received another new face! ... Er, one that looks pretty bewildered and more concerned than anything. She's not even aware that the Azurill she'd received is filming her, but Aqua does what Aqua does best: She gets information. Aqua makes her way around the town, doing her best to gather information. All the while, the Azurill is filming her... though, honestly, the camera's a little shaky. Um. More than "a little" shaky, because she's holding the camera with her feet.

... That sure is a thing that's happening. But she's trying, and that's what matters.

Several minutes pass before Aqua realizes her Azurill is filming her. ]

Oh! [ She kneels down next to the little one, smiling fondly (somehow, she notes to herself, because she's still getting used to the whole "not being trapped in the realm of darkness" thing). It's hard not to be in good spirits with such a cute critter, after all. ]

Can everyone see this? I've never encountered a device like this, but it doesn't seem too difficult to work.

Hello. My name is Aqua, and I've just arrived. [ ... ] I don't suppose I could easily find some sort of food for my friend, here. She does seem very hungry.

[ And sure enough, yup, that's the sound of the Azurill's tummy growling. At least she looks embarrassed about it. ]

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[!

Aqua, behold the wide-eyed look of the resident Riku, who soon tries to mask his shock between a calm expression, complete with a lazy smile. It's... adequately effective?]

You'll get the hang of it Aqua. Just gotta mess around and see what sticks.

[A pause.]

Anyway, you should have some food packed already-- try to hold onto that. If you want to feed your Pokémon, I'd grab some berries off the nearby routes. ...Just don't eat them yourself.

[ --?!

It's not hard to figure out who he is. He's older, much older, that's for sure, but it's impossible to mistake him for anyone else. For a while, she's not sure how to reply... She'd been so worried about everything and everyone that it's a shock. It's a good sort of shock, though... and Aqua takes a deep breath to steady herself.

Seeing someone she actually knows... it makes things a little easier. ]

I take it they're dangerous for humans?

[ She pauses--Aqua's not done speaking yet, she just... has to find the words. ]

Riku... You've really grown up.

[ There's a hint of pride there. ]

Not deadly, but unless you like hallucinations and nausea, I'd steer clear.

[It's said with a light, joking tone and a casual shrug. That being said, wow... He was not expecting her to recognize him so fast! It makes him pause for a moment, rubbing his neck.

Heh...]

And yeah, guess I have. It's been, what? Fifteen, sixteen years since you came to the islands? Man, time flies.

I'll be sure to, then. I'd rather not start my time here with ailments like that.

[ .... oh. Whatever she was expecting, it's... not that. His reply manages to silence her, and for a while, she doesn't say anything. Her lips purse, and she busies herself with patting her Azurill's head. ]

I didn't expect it to be such a long time. Fifteen or sixteen years...

[ ... Has she been gone that long? ]

No kidding. Though, depending on which way you go, you may not have to worry about it. The cruise to Kanto's pretty cozy from what I've heard, even if it's a bit pricy for a newcomer.

[Most people take the "easy" route and hike to Cherrygrove, but Riku's got a soft spot for Kanto.

He'll offer a small, sympathetic smile, though.]

If it makes you feel better, about six of those years passed here, and time back home's kinda frozen. Still, I wouldn't think too hard on it. This place likes to pull people from all over the timeline.

I think for the time being, I may stay in Johto. [ It's tempting to go, but honestly, Aqua wants to make sure she's built up quite a bit of income before splurging. ]

Frozen...

From all over the timeline--then two people may not come from the same time. I see.

That's fair. Just make sure you don't get swallowed up by Violet City or Goldenrod. Those places are like black holes.

[There's a hint of sarcasm to his voice, but truth is, it's not entirely inaccurate. Especially with Goldenrod these days, heh.

Granted, he can see why it's so popular. Some people just don't move past it.]

And yeah, that's the gist of it. Like, I'm at least a year behind Sora. Kairi's... a bit further ahead, but she popped up after I'd been hear for years.

As in, people find it difficult to leave? They must be fascinating places, then.

[ ...!!! ]

Kairi... Oh, thank goodness. I'm glad she was able to find someone to keep her safe.

[ That she ended up with the boys... it seems her magic spell had worked. ]

Heh, well, Goldenrod's a big city, so there's a lot to see. As for Violet... it's peaceful. Friendly community and all, but when you keep having to backtrack through there for months at a time, it kinda loses its appeal.

[In other words, he's very biased. Whoops...?]

And of course she did! Soon as she washed up, Sora and I basically became her bodyguards.

[Is it a joke? Possibly, but there's a grain of truth buried beneath it.]

If you've been here as long as you have, it's not that surprising.

[ Here she's looking extremely relieved. Aqua's a natural worrier, but this is one less thing to worry about. ]

It's incredible that she ended up in the same place as you and Sora. I suppose it was your destiny to meet.

Heh... Well, our world is called Destiny Islands.

[...

That was terrible. So terrible he immediately facepalms.]

Uh, anyway, I guess we have a lot to catch up on, don't we? And I can help get you up to speed if you want.

[ Okay, yeah, that gets a laugh out of her. ]

I have been curious about... well, everything. Whenever you have time, of course.

Hey, I've got way too much time to burn, so just pick a subject, and I'll see what I can do.

[Heh.]

Or I guess I could toss my guide at you, but it's kinda wordy.

You've had more than enough time to write a whole guide, haven't you? I'd be more than happy to read it.

Oh yeah. And the funny thing is, I started it years ago. It's just... a little outdated.

[Still, he'll go ahead and toss her a link nonetheless.]

To tell you the truth, I'm surprised newbies don't get more thorough guidebooks. It'd make a huge difference, if you ask me.

You just haven't had the time to update it?

[ Wow. It really is thorough. ]

You'd think we would. Isn't there someone to file a complaint with?

video/action | new bark town

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