pinnedbangs | 1st Struggle [video/text/audio] -- New Bark Town

[SNOW. NOTHING BUT SNOW. At least, that's all that can be seen. By this point, it can be assumed that someone has either a) left their gear on a moment too long or b) has had their gear hijacked by their brand new critter. Sadly, this is option d) . . . ]

LET ME BACK IN! IT'S FREEZING OUT HERE! [There's a distinctive whine in that person's voice. Obviously, he isn't used to leaving home without a jacket. Nor is he used to waking up with a woman in his face who is claiming to be his mom, but everyone's had that experience already...]

D-Dammit... who throws out people into the snow? Who was she anyway?

[Still, can't see a darn thing. The kid, definitely a boy, is still grumbling and he's still pretty darn cold. And -- he's picked up the gear. Hm. The kid looks pretty normal: black hair, blue eyes, Japanese? Maybe. The look on his face clearly says: IT'S NOT SUPPOSED TO BE SNOWING IN THE SUMMER OR THE SPRING. IT'S TOO COLD FOR THIS. There was clearly too much cold around for him to notice anything missing about him. Clearly. Surely he had to be wondering where his friends were... but. Still. Cold weather. Sort of mind numbing thing here. Besides, his brother must be around. It was impossible for him not to be around somewhere.]

[Welp, new kid has nothing to do but pick up all the stuff that fell out of his trainer pack when it was thrown out with him. The entire contents of the pack can be seen scattered around him. It takes him but a moment to get most of it, especially that red and white ball. ...And that little grey puppy that's been growling at him since he picked up the ball. Kid has noticed said puppy. Puppy looks like it's debating something... Rin slings the pack across his shoulders-- ]

[--Wait. Something was missing. Something that he should always have on his shoulder.... Rin reaches for something behind him, but his hand just feels empty air. He turns around and looks to the ground and around again...… he starts digging through the snow too, just in case it was buried but… no… there was no sign of what was missing. Not even a single impression on the snow other than his footprints and that of the puppy. He ignores the dog and heads back to Mom's House.]

Oi!! Lady!! I left something in there! [knockknockkn..ock…? That’s weird. Rin pulls his hand back and looks at the door once more. Normally, a door like this would have budged, at least a little. He tried the door knob instead but that was useless too. And just as odd… He could feel that he was using all of his strength, but it wasn’t doing anything. First no sword, now he wasn’t as strong… He rubbed his bare arms, trying to get some warmth in this freezing weather.] Come on! I really need it!!

[He didn't want to think of what would happen if he didn't have it. Actually, come to think of it, nothing had happened so far. ...For that matter... -- what was up with that puppy?]

...I can feel you staring at me. I don't have time to play now, I need to get back my sword. [But the puppy kept staring. It didn't look too nice either. A little mad, maybe. Okay, definitely.]

. . . Are you supposed to be a dog? [It's an innocent question... But Rin has three seconds to regret his words. Two seconds to see the little puppy bound towards him. One second, a single second, to save himself. And he's just a second too late.]

[POOCHYENA GOES RIGHT FOR RIN'S ARM AND SHE'S NOT LETTING GO. The gear manages to land in the snow video side up as he tries (unsuccessfully) to (safely) pry Poochyena off of him.]

GYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!! Down boy! Down! Get off! Lemme go already!!

[And that's when he notices how much it freakin' hurts. WHY IS THIS HAPPENING TO HIM...]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Yeah, that one. It'll stop biting you, at least. [...well no, not really a chew toy...]

...Or maybe find some raw steak.

[Completely dismissing that important information for food.]

Raw steak, huh? I want some steak right about now... Do you want steak, Poochy? [Poochy might want some steak...]

[clearly, that is the best way to deal with this situation. food always helps, after all.]

Yeah, your Pokemon looks kinda hungry, so feeding it would be a good idea. Something other than your arm would do nicely.

...But I guess you're at New Bark, huh? Don't think there's a place there that has steak or anything, but... if you need help, I think I can lend you a hand!

[Oh so helpful~. And providing a food option? Even better.]

Can I feed her what I have in this pack? [He pulls out the bento. He's... not too sure himself if it's edible for poochies. And Poochy's giving him hungry eyes...]

That's what the sign says. No idea what's this New Bark Town, but it's not Kyoto. Thanks!

You could, but then what are you gonna feed yourself later?

[he sighs because he's starting to sound like his partner, and that isn't in his job description... but he can't just leave you alone for some reason.]

Guess it can't be helped. I can have a couple of supplies delivered as far as Cherrygrove in your name, but you'll have to get there by yourself. It'll take a couple of days, but I guess if you share your bento with your Pokemon, you could last... Just don't eat the berries you might find on the road, they aren't really for human consumption.

Whatever else is in this pack. I can cook something and that'll be enough.

[Sheesh, what are ya, his mom?! Well, he can't say he dislikes the concern. It was a piece of familiarity in a place of absurdity. And it was just plain ol nice!]

You'd do that for me? Thanks a lot! You're a pretty cool guy! I can make it last, easily! ...What berries? [He instantly imagines grapes and strawberries and tomatoes.]

Maa, I guess that's alright.

[Someone has to be the mom around here, right?]

Heh, of course I'm a pretty cool guy, I'm a genius, after all. Ah, right-- [he reaches for something off-screen, then shows an oran berry.] Berries like these. They might look and smell edible, but only Pokemon can eat them.

Hey, maybe I'll save you some to try out~.

[Fine, fine... mom.]

A genius and a cool guy? That's a rare combination~. Let's keep it at 'cool' until you can prove you're genius material.

[That is an oddly adorable looking berry. And it is looking incredibly edible right about now. Poochyena's attention has been diverted from his arm to the delicious looking berry on screen.] Do they eat them raw?

I'll look forward to that, heh~

Of course I'm a genius too! Especially at tennis☆

[he starts tossing the oran berry in his hand.] Yeah, they eat 'em raw. They give different effects, too. This one heals your Pokemon by just a bit. There's one that gets rid of poison, too.

You better!

A tennis genius? [Sounds like one of the stories in that monthly Shonen he likes to read...] What's your name?

Those sound like really convenient berries. What else can they do? I want 'em all! [He makes a mental note to go ahead and find those berries for Poochy, just in case.]

I'm looking forward to it right now!

Me? I'm Marui Bunta, Rikka's Volley specialist and Genius, at your service~☆ [he's only winking because sometimes he likes to pretend he's an idol or something.]

Mm, let's see... There should be a list of some of the more common berries you can find in the trainer's handbook. Check your pack, it should be there!

So you're a real tennis genius! [THAT SOUNDS LIKE A CHARACTER FROM THE PRINCESS OF TENNIS. And Rin is falling for the idol routine. It just looks so damn cool, although this is also because Bunta hasn't given him a reason to dislike him. BUT IT IS SO COOL, RIN IS GONNA DO IT TOO, sans wink.]

I'm Rin Okumura, Exwire. [Or maybe he said 'Esquire'. He goes through his pack until he's found the trainer's handbook. Yay - now he has to read that thing? Damn...] ...This isn't a series, right?

Of course I am! [stop being so like-able damnit.]

Oh, that? Nah. Unless you're a breeder, then you'll have a second one. It's not that hard anyway, and at least there are pictures to help you identify the berries.

[NEBER EBER.]

A breeder? They're just around to help pokemon breed, right? [oh~ pictures~ he's flipping through them now!] This is awesome! Thank you~.

Yep! There's a breeding center here at Goldenrod, so if you're looking for a particular Pokemon, give 'em a call. They might give you one for free, too.

And you're welcome!

1st Struggle [video/text/audio] -- New Bark Town

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