punchandkiss | First Viking Assault

[When the camera turns on, it’s upside down, and shows a lovely pair of fur lined brown boots sitting on the ground, folded beneath a red leather skirt covered in…are those spikes? They certainly look like spikes. The camera shakes a few times, and then violently shifts to the left as though someone smacked it. And then there is a sigh.]

This can’t be right.

[The voice is female, and frustrated, and after a moment the camera moves wildly again, as it lifts up into the air, showing an image from above of a blonde teenager sitting on the grass somewhere, leaning her back against a tree, and there is a green pokemon curled up on the ground next to her chewing intently on what might be a rock. She looks like she’s about to throw the pokegear away, even make a little growl of frustration, but she happens to glance up at the last second and see that the screen is actually doing something.]

[She brings it back down, frowning at it (still upside down) as she taps the screen with her thumb a few times and finally turns it the right side over. After a few more seconds of poking and prodding, and a few more of pushing her Pokemon out of the way when it becomes a bit too curious about what’s on the shiny machine, she slumps down where she’s sitting and just stares at the screen.]

Okay. That guy. That professor said I can use this to talk to people. Other people, I mean, besides…everyone in this town…people who also woke up in a weird house with a little creature following them around, I mean.

[Some of her anger might be showing through there.]

So, hello. Hi. Whatever. I’m Astrid. I need- [She cuts off as the Axew suddenly pokes his head back into view again, and there’s more shuffling as she pushes him back off-screen.] Sit. Stay. Right there. Good boy.

Anyway. Other than some stuff that didn’t make any sense, all I know is I’ve got this guy following me around and something about training and collecting and…look, it doesn’t matter. I just need to know where Stormfly, my dragon, is…and my axe…and how to get home.

In that order. Thanks.

[Some more fumbling and after about fifteen seconds of a lovely shot of the palm of her hand, Astrid manages to turn the device off.]

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[She regards her Axew for a moment, giving it another pat, and then picks up the rock it had been gnawing on and tossing it. It goes running after it.]

How smart can they be?

Lady's proven capable of planning and manipulation, so I wouldn't underestimate them. I'm told some even manage to talk; they certainly understand human speech.

Mm.

[She's not exactly skeptical...the dragons back home appeared intelligent sometimes too. But she wasn't necessarily convinced. As the Axew ran back with the rock and plopped it by her leg she scooped it up and threw it again.]

How long have you been here?

Over a year now. It was thirteen months just the other day, actually.

A year for you. Two years for someone else.

I can't be here that long.

Much as I hate to be the bearer of bad news, I said the same thing on my first day, as well.

...Great.

[She sighs under her breath.]

What's your name, anyway?

I won't say you ought to resign yourself to it by any means, but for the time being it's an inevitability you'll simply have to accept.

My name is Yagyuu Hiroshi. Just Yagyuu is fine.

[She doesn't mean to stare, but she can't help it.]

I've never even heard a name like that. [She finally admits, and then she says it a few times to herself as if trying to make certain she's saying it right.]

Uh. Anyway. I'm Astrid. Nice to meet you?

You'll hear a lot of names you aren't used to around here, I imagine.

And believe me, the pleasure is all mine, Astrid-san.

...Just Astrid. What does san mean?

It's just something I'm familiar with, as a way of being polite. Call it a habit that's lingered from where I'm from.

Right, whatever. You don't have to with me, I don't really care about politeness.

[Viking, after all.]

First Viking Assault - [Video]

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