Round 1 - [Action : New Bark City] - [Audio]

[yanginthere]

[ Action : Morning ]
[ When it came to blending in with the natives, Yang certainly looked the part. The only reason she had the jacket on in the first place was because it was much colder here and she was still feeling the heat of the combat high she left behind in the arena. It was with equal parts bewilderment, confusion, and irritation that she looked out at her surroundings, her mind reeling with trying to make sense of everything she had read, or heard from that ... that delusional woman in the house she left behind.

To make matters worse, her attention was constantly divided between her goal of gathering as much information on this town as possible and the faint half-bark half-growling of the "pet" that was close to the heels of her boots at all times.

Finally, Yang stopped and crouched down, adjusting the way her new bag slung off of her shoulder. ] Look, pup. You're cute and all, and I've love to play with you, but I don't really have time for it right now. Okay? You feel me?

[ It certainly seemed to be listening, though talking to an animal and expecting it to comprehend everything she said wasn't what Yang expected at all. She was more just vocalizing her frustrations to the closest living soul.

She sighed, a thick cloud of steam in the chill winter air. ] I don't even have any treats for you. At least, I don't think I do... [ Yang thought about it a minute. There had been supplies, but nothing you should feed a dog.

Then Yang withdrew her hand from within the travel bag holding onto small red-and-white sphere. ] Hmm, actually. I never tried to open this. Looks like one of those surprise egg toy prizes. I wonder what's inside...

[ The Growlithe made a gruff, curious sound, and leaned in a bit to sniff at the ball. Yang tapped the button on it front and made as if to show the puppy the contents first. The ball grew in her hand, which surprised her and caused her to drop it. It popped open with a sound and then, after a flash of light, the dog was just... gone! Sucked right into the ball by some kind of strange energy.

Yang did not take that well. ] WHOA! What the— [ That was. Not supposed to happen. Yang's eyes were wide and she rose her feet. Time to panic! ] Ohmygod! WhatdidIdo? DidIkillit? Ididn't—! Ahh crap!!! [ She bent down to pick up the ball once more, turning it this way and that. Does she dare open it? Can someone close to her explain what just happened?!? HELP! ]

---

[ Audio : Open ]
[ Yang sounded much calmer when she finally made her general broadcast. It was said that this would be a good way to reach out to anyone here whether they were new like her, well informed as to how this place worked, or (hopefully) familiar voice from home. ]

Uhh, I was told I should probably introduce myself here over this network, but it feels kind of weird to do that. Not like I expect anyone to know who I am. But... [ A pause, there is some growling in the background. Eh. Here goes nothing? ]

I'm Yang Xiao Long. If the words "Remnant", "Beacon Academy", or "Vytal Festival" mean anything to you, call me back right away. It's kind of urgent.

If you're the one that brought me here, well, thanks for not letting me get to enjoy my victory first? Niiiice timing! [ A grumble. ] Jerks.

[ Yang sighed quietly. She's usually much better with people, but it's hard to feel up to making new friends right off the bat when freshly displaced. Give her a minute. She'll come around. ]

Otherwise, uh .... hi, I guess? Someone talk to me. I don't even know if I did this right.

Comments

[yanginthere]

Yeah! If this really is a game like you said, then it has rules. One of those has to involve "beating" it. Maybe... maybe that's how we get out of here. [ It's as good of a thing to hope for as anything, by video game logic. ]

[hashtagafreakingghost]

...Someone's probably bound to have tried that...

[But by the tone of her voice, it doesn't sound like she's willing to give up.]

[yanginthere]

Could be. But I've got most of my team here, and there's nothing we can't do when we put our heads together. [ Yang's confidence was on the rebound, and even just having the fleeting notion of one day escaping would be enough to spark the interest in doing whatever it would take to accomplish that goal. ]

[hashtagafreakingghost]

[A small surprised laugh.] That's...lucky, very lucky.

If you learn...anything at all, let me know? And vice-versa. The more heads, the better.

[yanginthere]

Of course! We wouldn't be selfish and keep it a secret. Everyone else deserves the same shot, you know?

We're all in this together. [ Now it was starting to sound less like a goal and more like a battle plan. Yang can dig that. ]

Hey, I don't think I caught your name earlier? You've already got mine. [ Yang Danger Xiao Long. ]

[hashtagafreakingghost]

[Hopefully, hopefully, everyone will be willing to continue helping each other.
And she won't do anything colossally stupid again.]

Oh! I never...? Stupid me, I'm Ashley. Ashley Williams. Nothing fancy like Danger.

[yanginthere]

[ Yang seems more amused than put out by the late introduction. ]

Ashley, huh? That's an interesting name. [ From her perspective anyway. ] I'll remember that.

[hashtagafreakingghost]

My name's interesting? Huh. That's...kind of funny, it's really popular back home. There were three different Ashleys in my fourth grade class.

[yanginthere]

Oh, really? I could see that getting confusing...

[ She adopts a softer tone here. Fond. ] Where I'm from, it's kind of A Thing to have names that are associated with colors. A big sentimental tradition that's been going on a few generations now. So instead of just Ashley, people would probably call you ... "Ash" or something.

Which is cool. I like fire. Can't have one without the other, right? [ Yang that was almost really, really gay. ]

[hashtagafreakingghost]

[It would be wasted on Ashley, as she is tragically, hilariously straight.]

Color tradition...? Hmm. [A pause as she snuggles closer into warm bird-feathers and considers. She sounds more than a little interested.] It's just...what everyone does? How cool- Ruby's the only one I can recognize, but...

...Incidentally. A lot of my friends do call me Ash anyway. Nicknames.

[yanginthere]

[ Well ALL Yang's friends can't be lesbians, now can they? I mean what. ]

Heh. See? It sort of works. [ Yang hummed in thought. ] Yeah, Ruby's name is easy. Weiss's meaning is "white snow".

Me? "Small dragon of sunshine". [ One can practically hear her beaming proudly. ]

[hashtagafreakingghost]

[She must befriend Yang it'll make her the odd-one-out.]

That sure is a name...

[...] Though, where does the Danger fit in?

[yanginthere]

[ Challenge easily accepted! ]

[ ...... ]

"Small, but dangerous, dragon of sunshine"? [ ;Da

The joke here being that Yang isn't small in any meaning of the word. Ash can find that out for herself someday. ]

[hashtagafreakingghost]

[You've got a laugh out of her, good job.]

Of course, I should've known.

[yanginthere]

[ It's just what she does! And from the sound of her own amusement, it's something Yang needed for herself. ]

Haha, well, now you know for sure who you're dealing with here.

I'm guessing it's about time for me to see just how dangerous the road out of town's supposed to be...

[hashtagafreakingghost]

...It's not so bad so far. Just kind of cold. My lil' Pokémon's handling anything that's bothering me, so...for someone actually trained in fighting, I'm sure you'll be alright.

[yanginthere]

That's good to hear. [ It would be very disheartening to learn of Ashley getting into trouble when others, like Yang, were days out. Talk about being useless... ]

Hey, thanks for the vote of confidence. I'm honestly not worried about myself or my, uh.... "Growlithe"?

[ She leaned away from the 'Gear a moment. ] Hm. We gotta get you a name, buddy. I can't just keep calling you rowdy.

....unless. You know. You like it? [ Is that a happy growl? Yang doesn't get Pokémon body language, but it can't be so different from dog language. ]

[hashtagafreakingghost]

[Well, sounds like good communication going on on that end. ...Did she get a dog? That sounds like a dog.]

...And you've got your friends too, right? [All of them heroes.] So this place... [She sighs a little, and stretches.]

Maybe I should get back on the road too. I think I'm still a day or two out from Cherrygrove.

[yanginthere]

Oh, yep! I'll meet up with them sooner or later. We always find a way to regroup.

[ Sounded like a good place to stop and reevaluate her position; plan her next move. Yang offers up an affirmative hum. ] Take care of yourself out there, all right?