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

[ She nods, and OH YAY FELLOW JAPANESE. o/ ]

No, it isn't! You and I, and almost everyone here you'll meet have been pulled from our own worlds and into this world, Johto. Though you shouldn't worry at all because some of the people I've met told me that the moment we leave our worlds, time somehow stops, so when we return, it's as if we never left. So it's almost like a fun vacation!

[ Oh good, he gets it! And when Poochy barks, Growl-kun on the other hand looks up at the Gear and barks too! ] And mhm, they are like pets! Though they have minds of their own and some of them can be really, really strong if you train them.

[ Kobato immediately bows politely as soon as he introduces himself. ] I'm Kobato Hanato! It's a pleasure to meet you, Rin-san. Um, if you have any more questions, I'll do my best to answer them!

[ooc: He should have introduced himself as 'Rin Okumura'. x_x I didn't catch that earlier...]

[\o countrymen gotta stick together!]

[Sadly, he's having a VERY hard time believing that, but she doesn't seem like the type who'd wantonly lie. And if she ever did lie, he was sure it wasn't through any fault of her own. He let's her explanation sink in, whether or not it wants to stick is a different matter.] But I was just with my brother - [His brother might be fine without him actually but the principle of the matter remained!] If I'm in another world, then where's my brother? Is he paused too?

[Rin looks over Poochy once more. She seems to enjoy speaking to the other dog - pokemon. For now, that was good enough for him.] Train them? ...what for?

[He's a little embarrassed by the formal greeting. To be addressed as 'san' was another matter, but still, Kobato was sweet. He bows back, but just slightly.] It's good to meet you too, Kobato. Asking how to get back home would be too much, so how do I get my sword back?

[Since his arm isn't being used as a chew toy anymore, he's noticed that it hasn't started healing in the least. Not to mention that he feels completely different than he had in the last few months. If he was bold enough, he'd dare mention that he felt as if his transformation never occurred.]

[ ooc: pfft, don't sweat it dude! happy ♥s day! o7 ]

Um, I think so.... but! I know that there's a huge possibility that your brother could be taken and put here in Johto too, because I've seen people have reunions with their friends who just arrived here from home. [ And she looks a little sad, because even when she says that, her own mentor and guide still hasn't arrived.]

Well, people who once had powers in their world would become powerless here, so you have to train your Pokemon so they can fight for you and protect you.

[ She suddenly looks a bit at a loss when Rin asks her how to get his sword back. Uh-oh, how should she answer this one? ] I'm afraid... you won't be getting your sword back for awhile, Rin-san. But don't worry! Sometimes, they're returned to you as 'gifts'! When I first arrived, I didn't have my bottle with me, but come Christmas, it was there as a present.

[ooc: okay~! Happy ♥s to you too! /o/]

[He quietly considers this new bit of information. To not see his brother for who knows how long was something he had mentally prepared for a long time ago, yet having it forced upon him in a different scenario was an entirely separate matter. A reunion was something to look forward, absolutely, but the sad look on her face spoke volumes: it happened, but not always.]

I'm sure Yukio can take care of himself without me to watch over him all the time. [He's exaggerating, but it makes him feel better. And hopefully it'll put a smile on her face.] Besides, I can't do much if I'm powerless -- i-if I was a human -- Wh-Who had powers! And stuff like that. Poochy and I'll work together.

[In that light, getting his sword back doesn't seem as important anymore. Better to not have his sword and those powers. He could be normal again (however that worked).] Even if it came back as a gift, I don't think it'd do me any good. But thank you Kobato~.

Yukio? Is he your little brother? [ And then an image of a cute little kid comes to mind, and Kobato can't help but smile. How nice it must be to have a family or a brother who looked after you! Not that she'd know much about it since she doesn't have a family of any sort except for Ioryogi-san... but asdfg now's not the time to think about things like those Kobato!!

So she immediately nods and gives him an encouraging smile. ] I'm sure you and Poochy will do great here in Johto! And if you ever need any help, my Pokemon and I will try our best to assist you in any way we can.

[ Kobato gives him a look of confusion however, at his sudden change of mind about his sword. ] Are you sure...? You seemed really upset about it earlier. But ah, no worries! I'm always glad to help.

He is. He's my younger twin. [Yukio must have been worried about him - but Kobato did say time stopped for the ones back home. Admittedly, the idea of his brother being frozen in time was... distressing. But. Safer there than here? It was best not to think about it much. He would ask if she had any siblings, but he had a feeling the answer would have been no.

He returns that smile as brightly as he can. It's the least he can do to show his appreciation.]

Alright, Kobato, I'll be sure to give you a call~. [Her question doesn't throw him off guard. He shouldn't have mentioned the sword in the first place, but what's done is done. As far as he was concerned, it was out of sight so it should stay out of mind.]

Nah... If I get it back, then I get it back. Let's just say I don't need it anymore now that I have Poochy and your help too.

Twin? What's that? [ And she looks at him curiously. She had never seen a 'twin' before, and she doesn't remember Ioryogi-san telling her what a twin was. ]

Good! Perhaps we can even meet once you reach Violet City. [ At his response, Kobato simply nods and smiles. ] Alright, I see. I'm sure Poochy would be more than glad to fight for you and protect you anyway!

[What the f -- th-that's okay, he can explain it all... sorta.] A twin. You know... like siblings who are born on the same day and share a womb.

Violet City... okay, I'll remember that. Poochy and I'll meet you there! [He smiles back feeling a little awkward as he does so. She was just nice to him~.]

Uwaaa, really? That sounds so cool! [ And so strange at the same time. ] I hope I can meet your 'twin' someday, Rin-san!

Awesome! Momo-san and Growl-kun and the rest of us will welcome you guys when you arrive.

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

video;

video;

video;

video;

video;

video;

video;

video;

video;