One Ghost

[brokethecycle]

[The pokegear flips on and there is a very confused, somewhat bewildered looking kid looking into the camera.]

Okay, um. I ...really don't know what's going on here. This isn't my house, or my mom, and this place is definitely not Blithe Hollow.

Is anyone listening on this? I- this is crazy. I'm walking around this place like I got trapped in a video game- I don't think I've even played this version. What does- Ack!

[And it's at this point, Norman gets cut off because he's being bodily tackled by his pokemon, which can be seen as a Duskull shaped blur. Norman grumbles off screen as he's at the mercy of its affection.]

I'm just making a call, I'm not going anywhere- Okay, okay we can go in a minute. I kind of need you to get off me first.

[The funny thing is that he's actually also having a conversation with it.]

Comments

[thisonetime_withkeith]

Aw come on man, let 'im have it for a while longer! I think Suee was just about to say hello!

[Actually, Suee still looks as uncomfortable and shy as ever. She really looks like she just wants to be put down, as if the idea of socializing with this Pokemon is terrifying.]

[brokethecycle]

[Norman tosses his hands up and just settles on the grass while Duskull has his gear and floats about ten feet in the air.]

Fine, you can talk- but that was cheating, and you know it.

[Duskull makes a comment back to Norman. "It's not cheating, you should just learn to float!"]

Humans can't float. So its definitely still cheating.

[thisonetime_withkeith]

[Ellis can't help but snicker at their back and forth, grinning widely as he keeps Tepig held up. The pig is still stubbornly silent.]

Don't give 'im too hard a time, I think he's just tryin' to make friends!

[brokethecycle]

That's okay. I'll just leave him here to make friends. Bye, I'm going to Cherrygrove!

[Norman gets up and picks up his backpack. He slides it on and starts to make like he's leaving.]

[The Duskull notices this and immediately panics. "Don't go! I'm sorry here you can have it back, don't leave with out meeee!"]

[thisonetime_withkeith]

... That was sneaky.

[After a moment, he finally puts Tepig down, resigned to the fact he probably won't be able to get her to say anything. Clearly they need to work on her confidence issues still.]

Well anyway! Name's Ellis. What about you?

[brokethecycle]

My Dad used to use that on me and my sister all the time when we were little.

[He gets the gear back and ...sigh. Pats Duskull on the head.]

Oh um. My name's Norman. Nice to meet you.

[thisonetime_withkeith]

I think I remember ma doin' it, too!

[He smiles at Normal patting Duskull's head. That's more like it. Friendliness is the way to go!]

Nice to meet you, too! Where are ya, anyway?

[brokethecycle]

I'm in this little town called New Bark, I think?

[Hm, does he get any stranger danger off of you?]

[thisonetime_withkeith]

[If he gets any stranger danger off of Ellis, then he has a really borked up sense of danger. Ellis wouldn't hurt a fly.

Unless it was a zombie.]

Oh sweet, I'm still there too! I ain't left yet, even though I've been here a couple weeks. Been too busy workin' and training my pig.

[brokethecycle]

[That's good at least. You can't blame him for being suspicious, though.]

I guess this is where everyone starts out. Then we're supposed to head down Route 29 and do whatever our ID card says we're supposed to do?

[thisonetime_withkeith]

I think it is! It's where I started anyway, and I've seen a few people come from here too. So yeah, sounds about right.

[He gives Norman a nod.]

Yup! Mine says I'm a breeder, so I been tryin' to find a boyfriend for Suee here. It's hard work! And I been working at the Pokemart here for money. Ya might think ya got a lot of money, but really it ain't much at all. It's kinda sad! I thought I was rich when I got here.

[He sounds slightly bitter about this.]

[brokethecycle]

Oh, that's what mine says, too. Are we ...supposed to make them like, have babies or something? That's kind of creepy.

[Small laugh.]

Yeah, I thought it was a lot of money, too. But I guess things are a lot more expensive here than back home.

[Speaking of, Ellis you have a really funny accent.]

Where are you from, anyway?

[thisonetime_withkeith]

I guess so! Apparently they makes eggs 'n stuff that hatch into Pokemon, too. I ain't sure how to do it, which is why I'm tryin' to find Suee a boy.

[Excuse you, but his accent is flawless and you're being overly judgmental.]

Oh, I'm from Georgia! What about you?

[brokethecycle]

I don't think that's the way that should work. [Mammals didn't lay eggs, did they? He's pretty sure that's what he learned in science class. Salma would be having an aneurysm right about now.]

[Georgia. That made sense.]

Massachusetts.

[thisonetime_withkeith]

I'm just tellin' ya what I've heard and read in the breeder's handbook I got in the bag ya get. I'm sure ya have one too, so see for yourself.

Oh cool! And hey, d'you wanna meet up since we're in the same town?

[brokethecycle]

I will, but I'm just saying, I don't think pigs are supposed to lay eggs. [This place was weird.]

Oh, um. Sure. Where at?

[thisonetime_withkeith]

Maybe so, but I think everything lays eggs here!

[Hmm... Well, he IS at the Pokemart and... Kinda slacking off on his shift. Oops.]

You can meet me where I work. I'm at the Pokemart!

[brokethecycle]

Even the ghosts apparently? I still think that's really weird.

[Oh hey, the Pokemart.]

Oh! I think I know where that is. Okay, I'll see you there.

[thisonetime_withkeith]

Ya know those things you just ain't supposed to question? Well, I think this is one of 'em...

Alright! I'll be here, workin' and waitin'.

[brokethecycle]

I'm starting to get that.

Okay!

[And after a few minutes- more like fifteen- there will be a tiny eleven-year-old with crazy hair and a Duskull trailing behind him heading into the Pokemart.]

[thisonetime_withkeith]

[The moment Ellis sees him, he's tugging off the Pokemart apron he's been wearing and tossing it onto the counter, giving Norman an enthusiastic wave as he approaches. The height difference is very apparent when he gets closer and looks down at him.]

Hey, man! Nice to finally meet ya!

[brokethecycle]

[Wow, yep. Ellis is like as tall as his sister. Norman smiles a bit and offers him a small wave.]

You too, I-- [And that's when Romero sort of ducks around him to wave enthusiastically at Ellis.]

Romero says hi, too.

[thisonetime_withkeith]

[He hasn't met anyone this short in a while. Hell, he's not met a kid in general in a while considering zombies. It's pretty nice! Man he's real tempted to touch Norman's hair, because he has no concept of personal space. But he's not doing it juuust yet. Especially because suddenly ghost!]

Whoa, hey there bud! Nice to meet ya both! I ain't ever met a ghost named Romero before... Hell, ain't ever met a ghost before. This is so cool!

[brokethecycle]

[Romero preens at being called cool. He likes this guy. Norman snickers a little bit.]

Um. He's named after George Romero, the famous movie director?

[thisonetime_withkeith]

Oh, that guy! I think I remember one of my friends mentioning he did zombie movies, too! Kinda ironic considerin' we got run over with zombies where I'm from.