001. video/action for new bark town

[shuttermouse]

( VIDEO; )
[ Before the video starts recording, the network is flooded by a dozen or so photographs, all of them taken in the area in and immediately outside of New Bark Town. When the video finally comes on, a girl who doesn't look a day older than twelve (spoilers: she's 21, not that you'd be able to tell that just from looking at her) is sitting in a tree with her back against the trunk. There's an Emolga lying draped across her lap, and she's idly scratching it behind the ears as she looks into the camera. ]

Sheesh, the camera function on this thing isn't good enough... The resolution is too low and the shots get grainy when I zoom in.

[ She shakes her head, a hint of disappointment showing on her face. ]

But it'll do in a pinch until I can get something better. Speaking of which, where can you buy decent cameras around these parts? I prefer digital ones, but I don't mind using classics like Instax or Polaroid as long as the film isn't too hard to come by.

[ Well, it seems like somebody here has her priorities exactly in order. From the looks of it, she seems more bothered about not having a decent camera on her person than the whole interdimensional kidnapping thing. She pauses briefly to wait for the Emolga to climb up onto her shoulder and settle itself there, before she continues. ]

Anyway, I've got another question. It seems like I've got two choices here - the ferry heading east, or the forest route to the west leading to... Cherryville? I don't know, I haven't memorized the names on the map yet. Which did you choose? I haven't made up my mind yet, and I'd like to know more so I can pick the more interesting option.

( ACTION; )
[ Anyone in New Bark may run into the tiny girl wandering about with her Emolga hovering in the air just a few feet away. Once in a while she stops to use her Gear to take a picture of whatever captured her interest at that moment; you can find her snapping pictures of the water by the docks, or she's crouching down to take a picture of some stones she found on the ground, or maybe she's even taking pictures of any fellow new arrival who happens to be nearby. ]

Comments

[ACTION]

[invigorating]

Hey, what are you doing?

[Hope you don't mind being interrupted! The voice comes from a tiny, green-haired girl who is... probably taller than Chie, actually. She's currently wearing a Dratini draped around her shoulders like some kind of really long, living boa, but perhaps even more interesting than that is her absolutely horrible outfit. She sounds curious and her head is tipped slightly to the side as she tries to figure out what the other girl's doing.]

[shuttermouse]

[Seeing as Chie is like 4'3", Nowi is most likely taller than her. She looks over at her and...can't help but stare for a moment because that's quite possibly one of the weirdest outfits she's seen. It makes Kaneki's unnecessarily revealing battlesuit look normal.]

I'm taking photos of stuff. [That said, now that Nowi's got her attention she's going to snap a quick picture of her - hope she doesn't mind.]

[invigorating]

[She doesn't mind! But that's probably because she doesn't know what a photo is.]

...A "photo"? What's that?

[shuttermouse]

...You seriously don't know?

[ Have you been living under a rock, or. ]

[invigorating]

Nope! I've never heard of it before!

[Well, fantasy medieval times, so close enough!!]

[shuttermouse]

[ Chie holds up the PokéGear so Nowi can take a look at the picture she just took. ]

This is a photo! "Photo" is short for photograph, by the way.

[invigorating]

"Photograph"... Wow, it's me!

[Nowi leans in to get a better look, eyes wide.]

Oh man, it looks exactly like me! It's like a mirror, but not!

[Thanks, Nowi.]

I didn't know you could do something like this! How'd you manage it?

[shuttermouse]

I used the camera function on this PokéGear here. [Her eyes seem to light up; she loves it when she gets to talk about photography.]

A camera is a device that can record pictures.

[It's a pretty simple explanation, but since the girl seems to have been living under a rock she figures it's best if she doesn't get into technological jargon.]

[invigorating]

Ohhhh, so using that thing you managed to make a picture! Wow, that's so cool! Do you have any other pictures?

[Nowi is very easily fascinated by things, but this is brand new and super unique!!!]

[shuttermouse]

Yep! [ Give her a second to pull up a shot she took of her Emolga. It's a closeup so it's somewhat grainy, but it's very cute. ]

There's plenty of interesting things around, so I've been taking lots of pictures since I woke up here.

[invigorating]

And you can just keep those pictures forever? That's such a great way to remember things! Oh man, just imagine if I could have had pictures of everything I've seen...

[She looks kind of distant for a moment, which is probably the calmest she's been since she started talking.]

...Can anyone take pictures?

[shuttermouse]

Well... I can keep them as long as the PokéGear they're stored on doesn't break or something. If it's damaged the pictures could disappear. [ There's always backing up data and such, but she's keeping it simple for now. ]

Anyone can take pictures as long as they've got a camera.

[invigorating]

Oh... That could be bad. But if you're careful with it then the pictures should be fine!

[Nowi brightens immediately at Chie's words, grinning broadly.]

Really? Could you show me how to do it?

[shuttermouse]

Yes! [ She starts with a brief explanation of how to launch the camera, before moving on to how to take the actual picture. ]

Just aim the device at your subject - and try to keep it steady so the pic doesn't get blurry - and press the button here.

[invigorating]

Ohhh okay, I think I got it!

[Nowi fishes her 'Gear out of the bag and points it toward the landscape. Her grip is tight and she's kind of shaky, but she's trying! She finally manages to take a picture and looks at it on the 'Gear.]

Wow, this is so cool!

[shuttermouse]

[ Chie watches as Nowi takes the picture, feeling somewhat pleased with having introduced somebody to cameras. ]

What sort of place are you from that doesn't have photos?

[invigorating]

Ylisse! Well, I don't really remember if I'm from Ylisse, but I'm serving in the army there, so...

[She shrugs. It's not really important!]

We definitely don't have anything like this there. I mean some people can paint or draw, but that's the closest we've got to pictures like this! And let me tell you, posing for a portrait's a pain in the butt! I tried it once and oh man, never again! I hate sitting still!

[shuttermouse]

[ ...If Chie were a normal-sized adult, she'd ask why she's in the army but since she's not she immediately assumes that Nowi is a fellow member of the "older than they look" club. ]

Wow, Ylisse sounds pretty backwards. I'd never have the patience for something like that.

[invigorating]

[Sometimes it sucks being so tiny!!]

Yeah? Where are you from? I can't think of anywhere that has cameras. I probably would've heard about pictures before now if any of the nearby countries had 'em! Maybe something over near Valm...?

[shuttermouse]

[ Yes. :( ]

I'm from Tokyo, in Japan.

[invigorating]

Tokyo... Japan.... I've never heard of either of them! They're kinda fun to say though.

[Nowi]

[shuttermouse]

Huh, really? I don't think they're that fun... [ She pauses, as if to think of a word that's more fun to say. ]

...Wouldn't "Ikebukuro" be more fun?

[invigorating]

Ikebukuro-- Oh wow, you're right, that's really fun to say! Ikebukuro! Ikebukuro!

[SEND HELP]

[shuttermouse]

[ NOWI NO. CHIE NO. ]

Anyway, what's your name? I'm Chie Hori.

[invigorating]

I'm Nowi! Just Nowi. No other names here! So do you want me to call you "Chie" or "Hori"?