Agent North Dakota (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
usedlightscreen) wrote2015-09-22 05:49 pm
usedlightscreen) wrote2015-09-22 05:49 pm
1; Video
[The only sound for a moment is the knock of the gear being tapped against something semi-hard, and similarly the only thing in focus is a white eggshell with the corners of red and blue shapes.
Also the sound of the 'Gear being chewed on. Omnomnomnom.]
Are you getting into trouble already, you little scamp?
[The voice is deep, warm, and affectionate.]
That's not food, here, let me trade you-
[The feed is a little smeared on one corner, and the camera unknowingly focuses on a large, pale hand offering one of thedonuts rice balls that Mom packs standard in her bento to a very small Togepi, who takes it in its little hands and shoves the whole thing into its mouth at once. The voice laughs offscreen, and the camera gets a closeup of his green overalls as he untucks his purple t-shirt to wipe the drool off the corner.
It's then that he notices that the camera's on, and finally brings his face into focus.]
...Sorry about that, I hope he didn't bother anybody.
Also the sound of the 'Gear being chewed on. Omnomnomnom.]
Are you getting into trouble already, you little scamp?
[The voice is deep, warm, and affectionate.]
That's not food, here, let me trade you-
[The feed is a little smeared on one corner, and the camera unknowingly focuses on a large, pale hand offering one of the
It's then that he notices that the camera's on, and finally brings his face into focus.]
...Sorry about that, I hope he didn't bother anybody.
[Video]
[Man, she misses the warthogs.
She looks to D-2 for a second, not sure what to make of her still-- and just makes an attempt to give... everyone orders.]
We'll meet you by [XX]00, North. Try to stay near the center so we can locate you. Stripes, c'mere, boy-- and D-2, stay with York.
S-sync?
[She unintentionally stutters on the word-- realising that she's said it at all again gives her pause. She'd fallen out of the habit with the reds and blues
because they are untrained babies who don't understand instructions anywaybut being around the other freelancers makes saying it feel like what she's supposed to do.][Video]
[His tone is level and careful, like all this is too good to be true, (it is, it has to be) like he's about to wake up (he never will, he knows it, the emptiness in his own mind is too real to forget).]
We'll be right here.
[He means him and Togepi, who gives a worried little trill from just offscreen.]
[Video]
[There's no real point in syncing when their numbers are so rough, but, well. It feels a bit like home. York drops to one knee to pick up Delta Two and settles her easily on his hip.
He hasn't told Carolina he's been designated a Pokémon Breeder yet and not a Trainer, but he's starting to cotton to the idea.]
I can stay on the line in the meantime, man. Trust me, the music gets old fast, you might want something else to listen to.
[He waggles his fingers at Carolina. Hey, that 'Gear's his, it has his name on it. In it. Registered within its databanks. Whatever.]
[Video]
Still, the few hours walk is filled with anticipation and confusion for Carolina, through which she stares straight ahead, quiet and trying to breathe as evenly as she can. York and North's conversation only somewhat registers on her mind.
But as they approach New Bark, she picks up the pace, knowing York will be eager to hurry to North's side as well. Thanks to it not being a super huge town at all, it doesn't take them long after arriving to get a sight on North.]
> Action
He doesn't wave when he sees them. Doesn't really seem like he sees them at all, even after they've spotted him. He's got Togepi sleeping in his arms, but even though his eyes are on the baby pokemon that's curled in on itself inside its shell every other bit of his body language indicates that he's far away.]
[Action]
Ho, the castle!
[Not too loudly, Babypi is sleeping. York sets Delta Two down a few steps back and closes the rest of the distance on his own, one arm stretched to the side for a bro hug bump, should North accept the offer.]
It's really good to see you, dude. You don't know how much.
[Action]
He'll take that hug, though, pushing off the fence and wrapping a big arm around York in return. He lingers for half a beat too long before pulling back to make sure that Togepi didn't stir.]
It's been years since our paths crossed, I almost forgot what that face of yours looked like.
[His voice is light and affectionate, at least.]
[Action]
[LIFE ON THE LAM JOKES. Did you miss him.
His eye flicks from the new lines on North's face down to the sleeping Togepi, then down further and back to Delta Two. Frankly, he wouldn't have minded a longer hug--it has been so long, fuck--but they have entirely too much of an audience in Carolina and their tiny new friends.
The little Elgyem is hanging back shyly, but York beckons her over with a bob of his head.]
Come on, D-2, don't be shy. North won't bite.
[She steps closer and waves her blinky little hand, but doesn't pass York's legs.]
North, this is Delta Two. My whatchamacallit.
[Action]
[bro.
bro.
They'll hug more later when North isn't holding a sleepy baby.
The irony of it being York's companion who's shy and hiding behind his legs this time doesn't escape North, sends a pang of emptiness through his all-too-silent mind. Neither does Delta Two. He'd thought about Theta enough just looking at his own little partner. But the emptiness in his head, the scar on the back of his neck, it's all still too raw for him to think about naming the little guy after his first little guy.]
Hey there, D-2. You're gonna keep York from getting in too much trouble, right?
[Action]
[It's been too long since she's had a chance to talk, it would seem.
Carolina steps forward, eying North, and the reality of it all starts to really sink in. She wants, somehow, to be casual about this, but doesn't want to ignore the gravity of it, either.]
...It's been too long, North.
[yeah apparently she's just going to stand awkwardly now]
[Action]
York glances from North to Carolina, then sighs and scoops up his Pokémon so he can get out of the way should they hug or at least shake hands or something.]
Don't you listen to them, Two. I only get in trouble when I want to be in trouble.
[Which probably shouldn't reassure anyone very much. D-2 sure looks doubtful, still.]
[Action]
Shhh, it's alright little guy, I've got you, you're okay.
[He looks up at Carolina with a weary smile.]
It really has. It's good to see you, Carolina.
[Action]
She nods slowly at North, looks down for a moment, and looks back up with a similarly weary smile.]
It's good to see you too.
{Carolina isn't crying. She's smiling, in fact. But her voice has never betrayed her emotions, and it comes through sad enough to make Stripes whine quietly at her heels.]
[Action]
North's smile twitches downward again at the tone in her voice, but he keeps it up because she is smiling, still.]
...Hey.
[do u need a hug
or like a hand hug, because he's going to hold his arm out so she can either squeeze his hand or go in for a hug]
You're gonna be okay. From what I hear, this place was made for you.
[Action]
I'm so sorry, North. [It's not pleading or overly sad, really, so much as it sounds tired. Tired and ashamed.
She's sorry for not trusting him, for not trusting York, and... well, for his demise.]
[Action]
Hey, now. Nothing for you to be sorry for... None of us knew what was going to happen. You couldn't have stopped it.
[He's not even thinking about her not trusting him. He's thinking about how she was friends with the... was it even really Maine anymore?
Carolina had been close to the man that the thing that killed him had once been.]
[Action]
She takes the chance to breathe again, feeling small in the arms of an old friend. Finally, she moves back, clasping his arm with her hand like old soldier greetings.]
Good to know you haven't changed. Can't even let a girl feel bad for a second, can you?
[She means it with all the affection in the world, honestly. Letting go doesn't always mean not missing people with your whole heart.]
[Action]
It's what I'm here for. If I was any different you'd think I'd been replaced with a pod person.
[It's a stupid joke but pls laugh anyway.]
[Action]
[Action]
Well, he could, but happiness, like healing, takes time. They're going to need a lot of all of it.]
Okay, so. Sitrep.
[To business.]
There's only one road out of this town unless you pay for the boat--[And York is SO not used enough to the sensation of change in his pocket to want to spend it, like, ever.]--and apparently it's a few days' walk east to the next city over. I think Carolina's interested in that critter-fu dojo challenge, but I haven't made up my mind yet.
[Because he's a registered Breeder. Whatever that means.]
Either way, you with us, North?
[Action]
But the invitation makes him a little uncertain, and he traces the sharp edge of Togepi's shell with the pad of his thumb just lightly enough not to wake him.]
If you guys don't mind a third wheel...
[Action]
[And she's determined to keep it that way, no matter what reservations North may have. These are her freelancers now, thank you very much.
deliberately ignoring his phrasing? what do you mean deliberately ignoring his phrasing? she's not deliberately ignoring his phrasing at all. That would not be a very adult way to handle this situation.]
We've got a lot of ground to cover, you know.
[What do you mean 'Slow the fuck down, Carolina'?]
[Action]
Whoa there, Carolina, slow down. The Gyms aren't going anywhere. Structures built planetside, they're usually stationary.
[He turns to face her, but as he does, he manages to block his hand with Delta Two and half his body. He waves his hand in a small, flat motion from side to side, a discreet 'nuh-uh' to North while his gaze is pointedly on Carolina.
Naw, buddy. They're together again, but probably not together together, y'knowumsaying.]
Anyway, you heard the lady. Looks like you're stuck with us, man.
[Action]
Clearly if she didn't punch you that means she's open to negotiation.]
No place I'd rather be. Any idea where the first one of these Gyms is?
[Action]
He said the first gym is run by a man named Falkner in Violet city. That's right after Cherrygrove.
[COME ON BOYS YOU'RE TOO SLOW.]
We'll have time to train for it on the way.
[Action]
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