Arrival… (Video)

[orangesmith]

[The screen turns on to show a confused and frustrated teen, sitting on the edge of his new bed. He’s on the edge of it because it seems that his Skarmory has taken up most of the bed and isn’t interested in moving. This is a problem because Narancia has already spent the day in training and needs to take the chance to rest, but he wants to get this video out first.]

Alright, what the fuck is this and how do I go home? I was in the middle of something before all this, so I can’t stay here and keep doing your Team Rocket training stuff!

[Narancia’s current working theory is that a Stand brought him here, somehow. Why he was sent to some sort of Pokemon world is a mystery, but right now his priority is getting back to his friends at the Coliseum.]

Comments

video

[epitaffio]

[Oh, hey. It's not that often that they get new videos on this line, and it looks like this one's coming from a complete newbie. A newbie who... Doppio feels like he might know from somewhere? He's lost in thought for a couple of seconds, only realising he should probably say something once a blue sort of blob (that apparently has painted lips??) wobbles in his direction and bumps into his side.]

Um! Wasn't there a letter somewhere in your room? It's been a while... I could be misremembering.

[orangesmith]

Yeah, I saw that. It just said what to do and that they can't turn off the music and stuff.

[What is with the music? Narancia would like to know.]

I just want to know how to go home and all that. [Yes, the note also said that they didn't intentionally kidnap him, but that doesn't answer his question.

...It hasn't really yet occurred to him that he might be stuck here.

Meanwhile, his Skarmory leans forward to watch the Wobbuffet wobble in. Narancia glances at the Steel type, but doesn't do much about it.]

[epitaffio]

I don't think you really can yet, sorry. People say time's stopped back home, though! So... At least you're not missing anything important.

[That made it a lot easier for him - and a certain someone else who is clearly not paying attention to this conversation right now - to accept his continued presence here, personally.

Anyway, the Wobbuffet headbutts the camera, or... at the very least lets its head bounce onto it. Doppio quickly wipes it with a purple sleeve.]

[orangesmith]

If you say so... [He's clearly not quite okay with this, but if he can't leave for now and time's not moving back home, then he might as well try to get used to this place.]

...How long have you been here, then - hey, Mr. Smith! [Mr. Smith, apparently curious about the PokeGear and the Wobbuffet, is now pecking at the screen a bit much to Narancia's annoyance.]

[epitaffio]

[The Wobbuffet, in turn... stares?? Back?? It's a little hard to tell if it's staring, with that strange expression on its face... What Doppio can tell is that the kid he's talking to isn't too into it, so... he nudges the Wobbuffet with its Pokéball.]

Hey, Gomma, how about you rest for a bit? [And in it goes, after a mysterious "Wohhhhh." ANYWAY...] Uh, I think it's been... something like a year now?

[orangesmith]

[You can tell by the look on Narancia's face that he really doesn't know what the heck that was. A Pokemon, definitely, but beyond that? He's clueless.

Mr. Smith, for his part, seems disappointed that Gomma is gone and settles down again.]

...Damn, that's a long time. [Even if time's frozen back home, he's uncomfortable with potentially being stuck here for that long.] How did we even get here, anyway?

[He's still blaming Stand BS, but if this guy's been here for a year, then maybe he knows something.]

[epitaffio]

[Poor Mr. Smith. Doppio only called Gomma back for Narancia's sake, he swears! Perhaps one day they will see each other again.]

You know... I'm not sure. I've heard people say Arceus - that's... some kind of Pokémon that's also God, or something - did it, but then how do we end up in Team Rocket?

[orangesmith]

[Maybe one day...

But as for Narancia's reaction to this new info-]

Are you saying there's a fucking god Pokémon and that its hobby is kidnapping people?

[He's not amused about that. And given this is Narancia, he's likely to hold a grudge about that regardless of the circumstances.]

[epitaffio]

I... guess so? I don't know why it does that. It kind of feels like people don't talk about it enough!

[Like, is it just accepted as a normal part of this place now...??]

[orangesmith]

Damn it, this sucks. [Then, more quietly, Narancia mutters something, presumably at his Skarmory instead of the Gear. He’s not really intending Doppio to overhear, but it’s possible to overhear something about his Stand being gone if one listens close enough.

Then, more loudly and actually to the camera:]

Does this Arceus guy take stuff away, too? [He’s trying really hard to not reveal he has/had a Stand, but he wants to know.]

[epitaffio]

[... What was that he just said...?]

What kind of... "stuff"?

[Frankly, even if Narancia hadn't muttered, chances are Doppio would have asked anyway. It's in the Boss's best interests for him to keep an eye on everything and everyone that could eventually become an ally or an enemy.]

[orangesmith]

[Crap. Now he has to explain something.]

Uh, I had a Stand, but it's gone now.

[He's not saying what the Stand was, given his wariness of telling others about himself.]

[epitaffio]

A Stand?

[So, that IS what he thought he heard. But... Wait. The hamster wheel in his head is beginning to turn again. He does know this kid from somewhere, doesn't he? But if he knows him, and he's a Stand user, that would mean...

Tragically, Doppio does not pull a poker face out of his pocket in time to stop his eyes from going wide.]

[orangesmith]

[Narancia might not be the smartest one around, but he does notice Doppio's face and reacts by immediately going on his guard.]

What do you know about Stands, huh?

[Behind him, Mr. Smith notices Narancia's change in attitude and looks at him in surprise, apparently wondering what's going on.]

[epitaffio]

[Shit. Was that too obvious? Luckily, he has something to fall back on!]

T-They're some kind of special ability, right? I've talked to another kid in this place who had one.

[Two, actually (and alarmingly), but that's not the point right now.]