001 [Video]

[alive_through_luck]

[The video starts off easily enough. There's a child, who doesn't look to be no more than 8 or so, wearing a cassock and a black cap pulled down low. Puffs of steam rise into the air with every exhale, proving that it's cold out (never mind the few flakes of snow that appear and stick to his clothes). His cheeks are red, and he shivers before really focusing on the thing in his hands.]

I 'unno what's goin' on, but it's cold. It's wet. Someone thinks it's funny as hell to say they're my mom when I dun' even have one. And this furry orange...dog thing keeps talking.

[The view swings around to focus on the Growlithe lying on the ground next to the child. It just looks at him and wags its tail before giving a loud Growlithe! It's like it knows it's being recorded and is just cheesing it for the camera.]

See?! I know I don't know lots about dogs, but I know they're not suppose to talk.

[And there's the child again, frowning and all but glaring at the camera.]

Also, apparently it's my birthday. The thing said it was. I 'unno if it's right, but if it is, this is a horrible way to spend it!

[The child is just about to continue with his tirade before he is knocked over by his Pokemon partner. The video records the fall from the child's hand to the ground, and then suddenly shuts off.]

Comments

[video]

[codeforhope]

[Ah...it looks like this person was lucky enough to get a fire type as their starter. A good thing too, it seems, since it's been rather unfairly cold the past few days. There are a lot of questions to be answered, but first thing's first-]

You should stay near him. He'll help keep you warm.

Re: [video]

[alive_through_luck]

Gerroff me!

[The child's tiny hand manages to grab his PokeGear to reply--]

OOF!

[Before the Growlithe manages to flop on the kid's back.]

I don't even know what he is! ...Except warm. That's it.

[video]

[codeforhope]

He's a Growlithe. A Pokemon. Your starter, too, by the looks of things...

...but don't worry, he won't hurt you or anything.

[video]

[alive_through_luck]

I think he weighs more than me!

[...Duo, that's not really saying much. You're TINY.]

Growlithe!

Do...all of these Growliss talk?

[It sounds like Growliss, don't make fun of him.]

[video]

[codeforhope]

[Chihiro gives a slight nod, smiling a bit.]

Well...yes, but they aren't really talking...at least not like you and me. That's just the way some Pokemon sound. Some of them say the name of their species, and others don't say anything at all.

[video]

[alive_through_luck]

... Oh.

[A pause. ]

Do you have one like this?

[Action]

[badabooms]

Yeah, this place freakin' sucks all around, better get used to it kid.

[Does misery love company? It had better, because here comes a walking midget of a thundercloud, grudgingly carrying a Magikarp in both arms.]

Welcome to Johto, where ya get yanked away from whatever fresh hell is waitin' at home, turned human, and given a monster t'make up for it. Oh, and APPARENTLY sometimes thus place just dumps you back here and steals your stuff, so good luck with that.

[Is he in a bad mood? He seems like he's in a bad mood.]

[Action]

[alive_through_luck]

[Impmon's in a bad mood. Duo's in a bad mood. EVERYONE'S IN A BAD MOOD!

Duo just huffs at the other kid, and glares while the Growlithe just...continues to lie on his back.]

Yeah, well...I 'unno if this place is better or worse than a cell. [But it's definitely better than having your home blown up.] And what are you carrying? Is it food?

[...Yes, he in fact did ask if a Pokemon was food.]

Re: [Action]

[badabooms]

[But if YOU'RE in a bad mood and HE'S in a bad mood then WHO'S FLYING THE PLANE?]

Wh- TAIYAKI IS NOT FOOD!

[Which in retrospect is a pretty poor choice of nickname if you wanted to avoid exactly this kind of confusion.]

[Regardless, Impmon takes half a step back, shifting his Magikarp away from Duo!]

He's my partner an' you're not gonna touch him, got it?!

[Action]

[alive_through_luck]

...It sounds like food.

[Duo just shrugs while his Growlithe licks at his face. SURPRISE!]

Ack! No! Wadderyoudoin?!

[Nope. More Growlithe kisses because bad moods are no good and Growlithe wants to make it all go away. Looks like Duo's not getting fried Magikarp for dinner.]

1/2

[badabooms]

It does n-

[Impmon flushes red as he remembers that yeah, it really does.]

Well it's- that's just-

SHUT UP, OKAY?

[Truly an eloquent speaker, Impmon is.]

2/2

[badabooms]

[...and then Duo's Growlithe starts licking its trainer all over like the giant tiger-puppy it is.]

[It's a little hard to stay boiling mad, watching that.]

Heh. Better be careful, looks like your friend there might think you sound kinda like food too.

Re: 2/2

[alive_through_luck]

Ack! People are friends! Not food!

[Duo starts trying to push the Growlithe away, but it's just in vain. Soon, he just gives up and starts laughing.

No more anger. No more worrying about food, or lack thereof. Just laughing and being licked to death by an orange dog.]

Get 'im off me! Help!

[chickshades]

...how can you not have a mom?

I almost squealed when I saw you tagged me! BANDOU

[alive_through_luck]

I've never had a mom...

[But he's known someone who could have been... And that reminder, the memory of losing that person so recent, makes Duo stop. He bites down on his bottom lip and buries his face against his arms. He's not crying.

The Growlithe on his back seems to pick up on his sudden mood change and gives a whine before trying to nuzzle Duo's hidden face.]

o////o oh gosh really? but yay i'm glad you know who he is!

[chickshades]

Like...just wasn't around or...

[ Ah shit, the guy's upset now or something. Good job Bandou. He'll just kinda look around awkwardly. ]

I love K, okay? NO BLOOD NO BONE NO ASH

[alive_through_luck]

[At that, Duo looks back at the guy on the screen, his eyes slightly red now. He gives a good sniffle and then returns to glaring at the camera.]

I 'unno. I never knew her, 'kay? None of us knew our moms or dads or anything like that.

[He returns to hiding his face in his arms.]

Stupid fighting.

NO BLOOD! NO BONE! NO ASH!! /chants along

[chickshades]

Ah...

Yeah I know a few people like that.

[ Does that help? He's not sure. How do console people??

[alive_through_luck]

[Oh Bandou. You have such a way with children.]

There were lotsa us like that. Then some got sick. Then the rest got adopted.

[Duo sniffs again and looks up at the camera again. He's not so much glaring anymore than he is pouting.]

Are you like that? Like me?

[An orphan...]

[video]

[pinnedbangs]

That's because it's not a dog.

[Hello small child, this is Rin. He's really trying to be helpful. Honestly. Truly. Oh! Give him a second, there is something else he has to say...]

Happy birthday, by the way.

[video]

[alive_through_luck]

It looks like a dog.

[And walks like a dog, and sounds like a dog (sort of), then it must be a dog. But more importantly...]

Is it really my birthday, though? No one told me I had one before, and then this thing said it's today. Is it right?

[video]

[pinnedbangs]

So? Mushrooms look like food, but not all of them are edible.

[Rin how does this analogy work... Too bad, he's already moving on to the topic of birthdays. His face lights up a little. It's not a bad thing to not have a real birthday, but there was an easy solution for everything!]

Huh. You haven't had a birthday before? Then take today as your birthday. It's as good a day as any.

Re: [video]

[alive_through_luck]

I wouldn't know about mushrooms, now would I? We didn't have 'em on the colony. Duh!

[Oh, like he would know that, Duo. Stop being rude.]

I guess. Fine. TODAY IS MY BIRTHDAY THEN!

[It's said with much conviction (see also, loud), that it actually makes his Growlithe jump a bit.]

[video]

[pinnedbangs]

How'm I supposed to know you lived in a sun colony that can't grow mushrooms? Was it even on Earth?

[RIN, STOP MAKING GRUMPY FACES. HE'S LIKE, SEVEN. -- See he even declared that today was his birthday! -- Oh. That was actually an a-okay thing to do kid. You get a B+ for that.]

Happy birthday, kid. ...See? Even your growlithe is happy for you. [At least... it looks happy.]

Re: [video]

[alive_through_luck]

No! The colonies aren't on the Earth Sphere. That just sounds dumb. Colonies not in space...

[But yes, the Growlithe is happy. It gives a sort of bark sound and licks at the screen of the device.]

Hey! You're suppose to like me more than him!