[first petal] [video, action for New Bark Town characters]

[markoftherose]

[So, first things first, the young woman's face on the communicator looks like the one in the icon -- wide-eyed and utterly perplexed.]

...What in the world is this all about...?

[She glances down with a strange expression on her features, tilting the camera towards the Chikorita rubbing up against her legs nonstop like an affectionate cat.]This

Comments

[Action]

[mr_bznz]

[Another one saying something about a 'Neo Domino City'. Did she know Crow then? Regardless she looked lost, he figured answering her and giving her a little closer would help.

No one wants to be alone. He walked over to her.]

You're in some place called Johto. That thing?

They're called...Poke'...Poke'mon or something. I have one too.

The map device on here isn't very good, there's a paper one in the backpack you should have gotten.

[Action]

[markoftherose]

...Pokemon? That's... new. What are they supposed to do? They can't duel, can they?

[She removes the map from her bag, unfolds it, and then frowns at it after a moment.]

But it's not much different from the map on the device... and I don't see any D-Wheels or even cars around here, either. And no paved roads, for that matter. It seems like such a rural place.

[Action]

[mr_bznz]

These little creatures fight one another. It's close to dueling anyway.

[His Scyther latches onto him in an attempt to tackle him. He's not very strong so no such luck.]

...

[He leans in, looking at the map. He'd have to ask about the D-Wheel thing later.]

This place is really rural. There are no cars, I've not even seen so much as a computer.

[Action]

[markoftherose]

...They fight each other? But does that mean our cards are useless?

Then, if there are no cars or computers, this device is probably the best connection to other people that we have right now...

[She tenses and shifts away in surprise as the Scyther tries to attack this man again, wary that it might try to attack her too. She thinks she still has her powers if necessary, though.]

Why is yours being so aggressive?!

[Double take between her Chikorita and the Scyther. Hers didn't seem like the type to nuzzle up to someone and then try to attack them... then again, hers also didn't have sharp blades on its hands that could kill someone easily.]

[video]

[darkenedgales]

[O HAI FAMILIAR FACE.]

Hey, Aki! So you're here too, huh? Looks like this place really likes duelists!

[video]

[markoftherose]

[Her expression brightens a great deal at seeing him.]

I... suppose I am. I'm glad to see you, Crow.

What do you mean by "really likes duelists"? Are the others here as well?

[video]

[darkenedgales]

You bet! Yuusei, Jack and Rua are here, too! Same goes for a bunch of duelists I've never met back home.

You probably want to know where "here" is? We're in Johto, which is apparently a different world, inhabited by creatures like the one you got... Pokemon. We're expected to travel around this world, catching and training them. It's a lot like dueling!

[video]

[markoftherose]

I'm glad to hear that. It's a little more comforting to know.

A different world...? If you're sure about that, I can't really say that wouldn't make some sense... as to why the technology is different, and that there are no vehicles or roads. Or Duel Monsters, at that. It's just hard to believe at first. I suppose it could be like dueling, just without the cards, and controlling the monsters directly instead.

...We have to travel this entire world? Without D-Wheels or cars? But how long does it take on foot?

video

[usedflashcannon]

...

BIG SIS AKI?

video

[markoftherose]

Rua? You're here too! I'm glad to see you, but where are we, exactly? And where is everyone else...?

video

[usedflashcannon]

We're in Johto, have you gotten your Pokemon yet? They're so cool!

Ummm, Crow, Jack and Yusei are here too... is Ruka with you?

video

[markoftherose]

Johto? I've never heard of it.

If by "Pokemon" you mean this... [The view drops to the Chikorita again, who looks up and smiles, eyes sparkling.] What exactly is going on, though? Why are we here instead of back home, for one thing? And why Pokemon?

Ruka isn't with me... you mean she's not with you? [Aki frowns. Rua without Ruka just doesn't seem right.] But I'm glad the others are here as well.

[action]

[go_type]

[He totally followed Kaiba.]

You're not alone, but I don't know where Neo Domino City is either.

[action]

[markoftherose]

...That seems unusual to me. It's the center of practically everything, but according to a few people here, we're in another world... one that doesn't have Neo Domino City, it seems.

[action]

[go_type]

Tokyo is the biggest city I know of! It didn't use to be though... Heian--um, Kyoto was for a long time. Tokyo was called Edo back then.

No one I've asked knows about Tokyo either.

[He looks a little sad.]

[action]

[markoftherose]

I've heard of Tokyo, but Neo Domino is the central city in Japan where I'm from. I think Japan itself may not even exist here, or this place is so rural that people haven't heard of it, at least.

..."Back then"? How far back is "back then"?

[Aki is actually kind of amazed that people are coming from all different points in time here, because she'd always thought time was just... linear, no matter where you were.]

[video] SORRY I'm here I've been busy orz

[markoftherose]

Jack! You're here!

[Her face lights up. She's glad to see her friends are here as well. At least they're safe.]

Crow and Rua told me about how this place works. How long have you been here?

[video]

[markoftherose]

Rua said he's been here since the summer, as well, yet he was with me just a little while ago before I found myself here... time seems to work strangely in this place.