armalite | ☄ ► I ( video;; action for new bark )

[The video feed sparks with a lick of static that is sure to catch the eye of anyone perusing at the time. A one-two tapping at the screen follows as though the person handling it is merely trying to see how well the bit of hardware holds up against a spot of roughness. The finger moves away and the face of a young man appears while trying to steady the device. Something in the way his lips twitch and his eyes sort of drift this way and that signals that he is a little bit frazzled beneath an otherwise steady smile.

In the background, one can hear a muffled snuffling...]

Oh, uhm... Hey there. [Clearly it has to work like any other transmitter he has messed with, right? At least he seems to know his way around it. His jaw shifts and he tilts his chin up a touch to take on a more "professional" look.]

This is Lockon Stratos requesting a... [A beat. He is rolling the words around inside of his mouth as if something doesn't sound particularly right. He's in a place, somewhere, not on a ship or a military outpost. Still...] ... Status report in regards to the location of New Bark Town.

[His shoulders drop a bit along with one side of his lips. His voice drops to shake away the stilted austere from before. It is more tender this time and has an inflection of genuine curiosity.] Or anything, really. It looks like I'm new here, and it certainly isn't anywhere close to where I was the last time I remembered much of anything. [The corners of his lips twitch upward into a smile this time around--] I'd really appreciate it!

[A cream-colored nose bumps its way into his shoulder and he hops up to turn the device about, revealing an elegant-looking Ponyta with its ears up and dark eyes round and curious.]

ALSO... I found somebody's horse. I can't say I know what to do with it, but here it is!

Thanks again!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[The story is guaranteed one hundred percent true. Just one of the many perks of being elite agents in a ridiculous space war. Surely a Gundam pilot understands.]

Just got shipped in today. Same as you, I'm guessing. Thought I'd get the lay of the land before I even tried to address the populace at large, after the, uh...less than enlightening conversation I had with the woman calling herself my mother.

[Understand, he DOES...]

I have a feeling that she is everyone's mom somehow... That was a little awkward. [More than awkward. Ya know.] What direction are you headed in? I was told to head toward a "Cherrygrove" City, I think.

Far as I can tell, that's the only direction to go. Unless you take a boat headed to some place called "Pallet Town." Costs about two thousand units of the local currency, though.

[And with only three thousand to spare, York settled upon a mighty nah.]

Gotta say, I really didn't expect to wake up in a one-road town today.

I didn't really expect to wake up at all, so I think I'll count my blessings. [That oddly omnious statement is passed off with a cheerful laugh and a smile. DON'T MIND HIM...]

You and I sound like we might have a few things in common. Maybe we should rendezvous there.

[He returns Lockon's laugh with one of his own, easy and good-natured.]

Yeah, guess we probably do. I'd offer to race you, but I think you and your stallion there have an edge my team just can't beat out at this stage.

[Sorry, Ponyta, York can't tell Pokégenders yet.]

[Even the Ponyta's master isn't sure what gender it is but it seems to be responding well to being addressed as a female. He'll roll with that.]

We'll meet up whenever we're both there. I have plans to hang around in the next town just to gather information in the first place. It sounds like there are more answers in that neck of the woods.

Which one of these animals did you get, hm?

[York nods at the suggestion--it all makes sense to him--then looks over his shoulder to see where his partner got to.]

Delta? D-2? [His voice gentles, and it sounds less like he might have been a radio show host in another life.] C'mere, don't be shy. This guy's nice, all right?

[York stoops, and when he comes up again and straightens the PokéGear, he's got a little Elgyem balanced in the crook of his arm.]

She's a...an Elgyem? Something like that. Apparently, they read minds.

[Delta Two lifts one hand and flashes Lockon a timid greeting from her little light-up fingernubs.]

[He blinks and peers at the receiving feed, squinting at the new little creature before wiggling the fingers of his free hand in a wave.] I'll say that's a little different from what I have-- [As if on cue, the horse butts her huge head back in again with her ears pricked and her nostrils all a-quiver upon seeing another Pokemon on the screen.]

This one is called a 'Ponyta. I'm trying to think of a better name for her. Going by the species alone would be like calling anyone I meet "Human"...

I took to calling her after a friend of mine as a joke. I wasn't really planning to make it stick, but she doesn't seem to mind.

[She doesn't mind at all from the way she leans her ponderous head against York's shoulder, content.]

You could always go that route. Makes it hard to let 'em go if you miss them, though.

[The man's hand meets the horse's nose for a pat-pat.]

I'll let her pick out her own name while we're traveling. I'd hate to call her by something she doesn't like...

This gives me the opportunity to learn how to ride a horse anyway. Can't say I ever have. [Which will inevitably lead to broken bones probably.]

Man, you know, I can't, either? I'm not sure I can say I've ever even seen a real, live horse before, in real time. Let alone one that's, well. On fire.

[He smiles a little, and Delta light-blinks hello to Ponyta, too.]

You might need a special saddle for that.

My brother and I used to fool around and play pranks on the farmers when we were little. So I've seen plenty of them... But not for a couple of decades. You CAN ride them without saddles, in fact.

It certainly looks easy enough.

[She glances at the Ponyta-- who is far too interested in her new Elgyem friend to really give much of an answer. She whinnies and shakes out her mane. Lockon reaches to pat her neck.] I've also figured out that they don't burn you if you touch them... Unless she's doing it because she kinda knows me. I'm not a threat...

[York hums thoughtfully and adjusts Delta Two's weight in his arm.]

Could be. D-2 here started out sort of...already thinking she belonged to me, even before we spoke. I wonder if it's the same for all the little guys here. Everyone gets one, right?

[Curious.]

Wonder how they pick. Or who picks 'em.

[Lockon taps at his cheek with a finger.]

I don't have a whole lot of experience with animals to begin with. There's always someone saying that they know who they belong to and whatnot. They're smarter than we give them credit for.

Who picks them is probably the biggest question... I guess it doesn't matter now. I'm glad I have the opportunity to learn.

Yeah. [He sobers up a little.] It's something, having another shot. A shot at doing something else, that is, besides the soldier gig.

[And York shakes the mood off again.]

Though I guess I'm not real sure what to do with myself, besides try to get through those manuals they gave us.

[Now THERE is something that the two of them have in common. Having another "shot". Lockon nods a single time.]

The only way to figure out what to do with yourself is to give things a try... That might be the hardest part. [The whole "civilian" bit.]

Uh-huh. [York laughs and bounces Delta Two on his hip.] Well, who knows. Maybe this place'll let me hold down a real job for once. That'd be a nice change, right, D-2?

[The Elgyem crinkles her eyes in a smile and flashes another indecipherable pattern with her traffic light button-fingers.]

Exactly. Gotta keep you in the lifestyle you're accustomed to, little lady.

[Lockon lets fly another chuckle-- this time behind his hand. The horse makes another upset noise and tosses her head in the background.]

I should probably get on the road... Hopefully I'll run into you in the next city. It was great to meet you and your little friend there.

Likewise. I'll let you know when I get there.

[It's so good to be able to just say that, to know he can meet up with anyone at anytime without having to watch his back.]

See you around, man.

☄ ► I ( video;; action for new bark )

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