First Stage | Video/Action for New Bark Town, back-dated to Sunday morning

[thisisfriller]

[ It's a nice day in New Bark Town. New, baffled trainers have arrived to set off on inspirational and memorable journeys, and Mom is seeing off her beloved child with a tear in her eye and a handkerchief in her hand. ]

-- said it before, I'm not your kid! You don't even look like my mom!

[ the feed starts off with this denial, along with a

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[followmi]

[ When kids don't listen to their mothers, things get messy. Like two new trainers in the house at once, because someone didn't leave right away.

Miyuki bounds down the stairs, backpack on, looking for all the world like the bright-eyed son Makoto's supposed to be. ]

-Whoa! Hey, don't just wave it around by the tail, bro!

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[thisisfriller]

[ startled, Makoto really does lose her grip on the fish-- but lunges for it, catching it before it hits the ground. It's heavier than she expected. ]

Is this your mom?

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[followmi]

Eh? No! Well, I mean, I guess she's kinda my mom, but that's just 'cause I'm the player!

[ She eyes the fish. ]

You gonna, like... put that thing away?

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[thisisfriller]

[ Makoto looks at the fish.

The fish looks at Makoto.

She really has no idea this thing is a Pokémon, so with a quick "I'm borrowing your sink!" to Mom, she's locating the plug, filling it with water, and plunking the Feebas in there in the span of thirty seconds. This accomplished, she turns to Miyuki. ]

You said player?

[ yep, like nothing happened. ]

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[followmi]

[ Miyuki looks on skeptically. Seriously? ]

Uh, yeah... don't you have a Pokéball, bro?

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[thisisfriller]

Po--

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[thisisfriller]

[ give her a second; she's staring rather dubiously at the Feebas. Then at Mom.

Mom beams and nods.

It's now sinking in that, whatever the hell is going on, Makoto's first encounter with her partner involved almost using it as a bludgeon. ]

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[thisisfriller]

[ and Mom is such a good mother that she's handing her the Pokéball now; Makoto must have knocked it loose in her escape attempt.

Okay, maybe this isn't really her--

Shoop, there it goes. ]

... ...

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[thisisfriller]

... Problem solved! Talk about an embarrassing entrance...

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[followmi]

[ Laughing a little. ]

No biggie, dude. Let's just get outta here. Starter towns suck!

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[thisisfriller]

I'm with you-- uh, but the name's Makoto, not dude. [ already inching away from Le Mother Figure. ] Who're you?

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[followmi]

Miyuki!

[ She waves at Mom cheerfully and grabs Makoto by the wrist to pull her outside. ]

Tell me you've played Pokémon before, bro.

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[thisisfriller]

Yeah, just not in awhile. But I didn't think I'd end up living it.

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[followmi]

Yeah, well, life surprises you sometimes.

[ She doesn't let go of Makoto's wrist once they're outside, just glances around and starts hauling her toward the entrance to Route 29. ]

We've got our starters, so we can get going already!

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[thisisfriller]

[ Makoto's far too used to the younger idols dragging everyone around and dragging everyone around herself to be off-put by this one's tugging; instead, she lengthens her stride to keep up easily. ]

You're not worried about any of this at all, are you, Miyuki?

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[followmi]

What's there to be worried about? Kids my age do this all the time! I'm sure you can handle it.

[ A mischievous glance over her shoulder. Is she calling you old, Makoto? ]