> Dave: Be the pied piper.

[strideways]

[ Oh, look! A blurry thumb! The 'Gear is fumbled for a moment — looks like someone's having trouble holding onto it, or aiming it the right direction, at any rate.

When the camera steadies, the cameraman finally comes into view.

It's a bird! No, it's a... bunch of birds! It's... a really bad scarecrow?

Actually, it's Dave Strider. Guess who left his bird swag on?

Dave is almost literally covered in Murkrows. They're clinging to his clothes, perched all over his arms and his head and shoulders, sitting on his feet.... One of them, nestled in beneath his jaw on the right side, as cloooose as she can get, is wearing an orange ribbon around her neck. She looks like she's sulking. ]

Caught one of those dog Pokémon lurking around — Houndour, I guess. They're Fire- and Dark-type.

[ He's apparently determined to pretend the crows aren't even fucking there, because when one of them pecks at the 'Gear, he just moves it aside slightly and continues in the same tone of voice. ]

Was battling with my Gyarados, but I actually had to break out Tock to knock out a couple of them before I found one that wasn't level Fuck You, Strider. We're probably lucky they're not aggressive.

[ The ribboned Murkrow on his shoulder suddenly puffs herself up and lashes out at her neighbour, scattering a few crows for all of twenty seconds. They settle back down, with Dave's Murkrow looking unhappier than ever.

A few crows are lifted in front of the camera as he raises his left arm. If you're watching closely, he reaches up to scratch lightly at his Murkrow's talon. ]

And I'm pretty sure I saw a Gengar earlier. Those weren't around here before.

[ This is effectively a query: anyone know what's going on?

Before he can actually ask, though (if he was even going to), a bird on his left shoulder makes a grab for his shades. Dave jerks his head away, and his own Murkrow snatches at the sunglasses from the opposite side.

The 'Gear clatters to the ground, landing faceup and with an excellent, if fleeting, view of a crow flying off, an orange ribbon around her neck and a pair of sunglasses in one claw. A moment later, a hand covers the camera completely, and the feed shuts off. ]


[ Feel free to approach; he's near the north edge of Goldenrod. Just don't expect him to be very friendly — or look you in the eye. ]

Comments

action;

[usedwindything.livejournal.com]

[If Dave lost his shades, he knew he probably wasn't going to get a video response. He would be lucky for an audio response, given the sheer amount of Murkrows that seemed to be hell-bent on pestering him. So, there was really only one way to talk to Dave in this situation. Face-to-face.]

[And maybe he could help him get his sunglasses back. Somehow.]

Having some trouble, man?

action;

[strideways]

[ For the millionth useless time, Dave picks up the one bird off his head and tosses it. It flies a quick circle and comes right back, but he does have a second to fix his hair, which is what he's trying to do when John comes up. ]

Trouble? Nah. This is fucking aweso— ow.

[ The bird crash-lands in his hair again, apparently somewhat painfully. Dave glances up at John, adjusting the shades he's wearing. They're smaller than his own, but they do hide his eyes, as long as he doesn't let them slide down. ]

This is completely fucking awesome.

action;

[usedwindything.livejournal.com]

[There's a bit of a sympathetic cringe from the other boy at the painful-looking bird-head collision. Poor Dave.]

Yeah, it looks like it. Nice back-up shades, by the way. Do you just carry a few extra pairs in your backpack or were you wearing those shades under the normal ones?

[And if so, is there ANOTHER pair of shades under those tiny ones?]

action;

[strideways]

[ He rolls his eyes, but there's a vague look of dismay, a little easier to read than normal, since these shades don't cover his eyes quite as well. ]

No, they're... some guy let me borrow them. Undefined level of pedo there, but whatever. He didn't ask me to sit in his lap, so I guess we're cool.

action;

[usedwindything.livejournal.com]

Well...that's good. Though he probably wants them back at some point, I'm guessing? [He looks up, trying to pick out Seppucrow from the rest of mass of black birds.] She'll bring them back, right?

[usedsketch.livejournal.com]

[ Hanekoma's on his way to the casino when he spots Dave, and he has to stop and stare at the guy covered in crows. He didn't plan on striking up a conversation, but the man's Persian seems to have other ideas -- immediately she's fallen into a crouch and is slinking forward, intent on a feathery meal or at least a good game of chase.

Her owner hurries forward and recalls her just in time to see the kid lose his shades and fumble the Pokegear. Might as well offer help if he's over here, right? ]

Need a hand?

[strideways]

[ Dave hadn't noticed the cat or the man approach; he was looking into the sky and shading his eyes, more from the world than the sunshine. When Hanekoma speaks, though, he curses softly under his breath and doesn't turn around. ]

She'll come back.

[ Eventually. In the meantime, the bird on his head and the one that's taken Seppucrow's place are fighting over a lock of his hair. ]

[usedsketch.livejournal.com]

Was that one yours? The things sure seem fond a' you.

[ The amusement in his voice is hard to miss. As for Hanekoma, the Murkrow have been mostly leaving him alone -- maybe they recognize him as a fellow guy with feathers. ]

[strideways]

Yeah... always have been. Couldn't keep the fuckers outta my room at home, either.

[ He rubs his eye briefly — balls, that sun is bright — and turns his head as he speaks, but not far enough to show his face. ]

She takes off with my shit all the time, but I taught her early on to lay off the shades. Guess she just got pissed when some other feathery asshole tried to take them.

[usedsketch.livejournal.com]

[ He picks up on Dave's discomfort, but it seems like a big reaction to losing sunglasses. He just nudges his own shades a little closer to his eyes, quietly amazed that they've survived so long. ]

What, were those a special pair?

[video]

[pokemondolly.livejournal.com]

[Midori just... stares.]

That... is a lot of birds...

[text]

[strideways]

yeah tell me about it
theyve been multiplying since last thursday
cant get rid of them for anything

[text]

[pokemondolly.livejournal.com]

[text]

[strideways]

cant be seen without my shades
you definitely wouldnt be able to handle that
itd be too much for you
overload your delicate girl circuits

[text]

[pokemondolly.livejournal.com]

[Video]

[k9tantei.livejournal.com]

I'm startin' t'wonder what they're all waitin' for, myself; it was weird enough just havin' th'birds around actin' like somethin' was supposed t'happen. I'm not usually that superstitious, but th'way things work around here, havin' a bunch of Dark an' Ghost types actin' like that? Makes me think whatever's about to happen, isn't gonna be somethin' good.

Little surprised t'see more of th'Houndour around; there was a good while that th'only one I saw was Bas here. []

[text]

[strideways]

is that what they evolve into
pretty fucking cool
but yeah im pretty much thinking this is all some serious portension
just what we need

[text]

[k9tantei.livejournal.com]

[text]

[strideways]

sweet deal
yeah i really havent been around long enough to have the fear of god in me yet
but ive heard some serious horror stories
care to share any yourself

[text]

[k9tantei.livejournal.com]

]

[]

Action;

[usedtherapy.livejournal.com]

Well don't you look like you're enjoying yourself?

[[Strolling up behind the mass of Murkrows, Rose can't decide if she should feel sorry for Dave or laugh.]]

And to think, I was just going out to train my pack of cats. Would you care for some assistance from them? I'm sure you look like heaven to their little feline eyes right now.

Action;

[strideways]

[ Dave glances over his shoulder, now re-equipped with a pair of shades that aren't his. He rolls his eyes behind them. ]

You sure your cats would come out on the winning end?

Action;

[usedtherapy.livejournal.com]

Not positive, no. Depends on the levels.

[[Dave, she's calling out a few Pokemon. Meet a glaring Skitty and a Glameow that instantly skitters up her leg and hides in her hair.]]

And then, of course, there is always Guile and Karkitty here.

[[Here she indicates to the two Pokemon that were already out. The Espeon he met previously, and a Purugly, both sitting by her feet now.]]

Would you like me to try?

Action;

[strideways]

[ Dave eyes the cats for a moment before — awkwardly, thanks to his hangers-on — folding his arms. ]

Yeah, sure, but if I get mauled, you're patching me up and buying me lunch.

Action;

[usedtherapy.livejournal.com]

It'll be worth it.

[[With that, she gives the four a go ahead, and wouldn't you know it? They certainly are.

...well, three of them at least. Nartac, the Glameow, is not budging. Actually, he is retreating into the hood of her jacket.

There are swipes from the Purugly, psychic attacks from the Espeon, and angry biting from the Skitty (who doesn't really seem to be aiming at anything in particular, so don't be surprised if you get a few nips on your ankles, Dave).

How's it working on those Murkrows?]]