2 ✶ video/action

[walkersystem]

[Video! Molly's sitting on a park bench in Cherrygrove, a Natu and a shiny Sentret fighting for space in her lap.]

I wanted to say thanks to everyone who helped me last time. I can't remember everyone's names, but thanks.

[There were a lot of you people. But she does appreciate it, which is why she's reaching out again.]

But ... okay, I have to ask a few things. I've heard people talk about badges, what are those?

And ... well, what are pokémon supposed to eat?

[Video tilts to show the pokémon she's concerned for, then back up to Molly's face.]

They've kind of been eating my food, but I don't know if that's good for them. But I haven't really found anything in those stores either, like bird food or ... dog food or anything like that. So if anyone could help me with that that'd be great.

[Action if anyone in Cherrygrove wants to bump into her!]

Comments

[neededlassie]

[Wow rude, girls are okay too.]

What do you mean you don't know if you like it here? This place is awesome.

[...Oh right, most kids don't have ruined families. An awkward beat passes.]

...Do you miss your home?

[walkersystem]

_{[She shrugs a little, not wanting to get into the details exactly.]}

Yeah. I think people are wondering where I am. But a few people told me time stops back home, so maybe I shouldn't worry.

Don't you miss your home?

[neededlassie]

[...Same tbh.]

I guess, sometimes. But I've made a lot of really great friends here, and if I went home I'd forget about meeting them.

[He can't imagine going home and going back to being the helpless, sad little boy who shivered when grown men tried to talk to him.]

[walkersystem]

_{[Grown men are scary though. Molly wouldn't blame him.]}

... you forget?

Why would you forget about this?

[neededlassie]

Because time doesn't pass back home. So when you wake up, you're just the same as you were when you very first got here.

Which super sucks.

[walkersystem]

That's so unfair.

Why would anyone do that?

[neededlassie]

Heck if I know. I mean, it's probably better than time passing like normal. When I first got here I was super worried that my mom was going to freak out because I was missing, but it helped a lot when I found out that she won't even know I was gone.

[walkersystem]

Yes, but ...

That means you have to choose. Between your mom or your friends here.

[neededlassie]

Yeah... I mean, nobody really chooses if they're going to come here or if they're going to leave.

But if I did choose, I probably still wouldn't go home. My friends and my pokemon would all miss me if I left.

[walkersystem]

_{[She looks really conflicted about this. And quite upset and unsure.]}

I hope I don't stay here that long.

[neededlassie]

Don't say that without giving it a chance. Starting out traveling is hard, but it's fun with friends. And that means your pokemon too.

...Are you cold out there by yourself? It's not as cold today as it has been.

[Let's just...change the subject.]

[walkersystem]

_{[She nods slowly. Still looking pretty troubled, but she's more than fine with a subject change.]}

No, it's okay. It was kind of cold home anyway, so I already had my jacket.

[neededlassie]

Well... if you get cold and you haven't left town yet, I can send you one of my fire-types. He's real gentle, and you sure won't be cold.

Where are you from?

[walkersystem]

Isn't it a really long way to send pokémon?

I'm from Los Angeles. But I was in New York before I woke up here, and it gets colder there. Where areyou from?

[neededlassie]

Not with the computers! It's pretty cool, actually.

I'm from Philadelphia. What's Los Angeles like?

[walkersystem]

It's really warm. And it's great for swimming, and we never get any snow.

_{[But hold up]}

What do you mean about the computers? Like the ones in the Center?

[neededlassie]

[...swimming...]

I think snow's ok. It's better than rain.

[but yes, computers!!]

Yeah, those ones. You can send pokemon to people and they go through the computer and come out on the other side.

It's also where your pokemon automatically go when you have more than six.

[walkersystem]

Like email?

_{[surely you jest???]}

[neededlassie]

Kinda, maybe? Whatever shrinks the pokemon down small enough to fit in the balls also makes it possible to put them in computers, I guess.

Do you like dogs?

[walkersystem]

Yeah. Are you really gonna send me one? You don't have to.

[neededlassie]

I mean... you have to send him back sometime, but you can borrow him for a while. His name is Blaze.

[walkersystem]

Okay, if you're sure.

What kind of dog is he? Is he one with stripes?

[neededlassie]

Yeah! He's orange with black stripes, and he's super fluffy. I dunno if you know any of the pokemon names but he's a Growlithe.

[walkersystem]

Someone showed me what they transform into, they get huge!

_{[Which makes no sense but is exciting!]}

If you tell me how I can get him from the computer I promise I'll take really good care of him.

[neededlassie]

Oh yeah, Arcanine are really big! Blaze is...kind of a scaredy-dog, though, he doesn't really want to evolve. I can't really say I blame him, it must be scary to suddenly get that big all at once.

[Shaun grins.]

Sure! I'll send him to you, and then you can just go into the PC and check your pokemon box and he ought to be there.