lieutenantantichrist | [3] Video/Action for Violet City

[The camera is pointed at a Munna sitting on a picnic table. It stares back with serene, unblinking eyes.]

[It turns to show Blake, who has strain showing around his eyes and does not look real fucking happy.]

I have this aardvark piggy bank thing and it doesn't make any sense.

Whenever I let the damn thing out, it keeps floating off and then coming back in the middle of the night and chewing on my head. It's-- [his eyes avoid looking directly into the screen] It's goddamn weird.

[There's something else, but he can't go announcing it. The last thing he needs is people thinking he's a nut.]

Does anybody know anything about these things? The phone doesn't say much useful- [he breaks off and shouts offscreen] Hey! Get out of there!

[The phone is tossed down on the table. Sideways, the screen shows the Munna diving into Blake's backpack where it's sitting on the bench. Cheerfully ignoring Blake swearing at it and trying to grab it, it scatters things all over the place with its stubby legs until it finds what it was looking for. It floats up with a spoon floating in front of its face.]

[It stares straight at Blake as the spoon bends at a ninety-degree angle.]

[Blake growls at it] And stop doing that!

[The spoon unbends itself.]

[Blake crosses his arms and nods firmly.] That's better.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Yep. It's pretty fizzy up there. Like a thousand of tiny bubbles floating around his cranium.

Watch it there, Mark. Too much fizz and you'll be bloated for the rest of the day.]

Oh, I'm sorry. This too much for you? I thought you street cops were thicker than that. I didn't think you'd get so paranoid.

[Y'know, he kind of likes this. Norman can stand proudly in front of Blake like a deranged man with a floating pig suckling at his head and a chipmunk sticking out from his coat.]

You mean the same way "small pink critters" are a subspecies? Yeah, I guess we're not too far off from each other.

Great. I've got a psychic jackass, and you've got a rat with rabies.

[Norman's hair is going to be stuck in some odd directions after this.]

Why don't you fuck off, Norman? Christ, you being an asshole, that has to be the one fuckin' constant thing in the universe. It's not paranoid when there's a pig in your head talking about drowning.

[Blake should've known he wouldn't be any help. At the same time, in a weird way, it is kind of reassuring that one thing hasn't changed.]

[Steve approaches Alvin curiously. It's the nice Patrat she spoke to on the phone.]

[Norman's hair is already starting to do some strange things. From the front it looks untouched but from the back, his locks are starting to stick out in all sorts of weird directions. He can't help it if his hair is a natural, wavy mess.]

Patrats don't have rabies, Blake. You don't even know what they can do!

[Actually not a goddamn thing but their eyesight is A+.]

[But hearing that this thing has been talking about drowning to Blake brings this snack session to an abrupt halt as the agent pulls the Munna away from his head. Now you can really see how untamed his hair is.]

Would it kill you to actually to do some research about it instead of conspiring of the worst goddamn scenario?

[Oh hey! Alvin remembers this gal. It's Snubbullbull Steve! He'll just squeeze out from his warm spot and slide down Norman's body like an organic fire pole.

He sniffs around Steve, swishing his long tail on the ground.]

[They'd better be able to see well with all that eyeball]

What, win staring contests?

[The Munna squeaks. She was just getting a taste. Oh well. She'll just snuggle up to the fizzy-minded man instead.]

[Blake rubs his face. God, he's tired. Some of the antagonism drops out of his voice.] I actually tried that. Didn't say much except something about dreams.

Fine. Let's hear some fucking optimism. What's the best case scenario here, Jayden?

[Steve spins around to follow Alvin and makes herself dizzy. She tries patting him on the head with a stubby paw.]

Ooooooh! Feels good!

[Alvin starts tapping his little foot repeatedly. You found his favorite spot, Steve!]

...

[Norman doesn't say anything. Carter's right. There really isn't a 'best case scenario'. The two are still stuck in a world with a psychic elephant and the world's most disturbing-looking rodent.]

[Steve makes the snuffling sound that is her equivalent of a chuckle. She pats more enthusiastically.]

[Shit. Blake was actually kind of hoping he'd have something encouraging to say.]

[The Munna is trying to wriggle just enough out of Norman's grasp to snuggle into his lap and go to sleep.]

[Blake drums his fingers on the table. There's a minute of quiet.]

How's the kid doing?

[Would you look at that? The elephant wants to take a nap. On top of Norman Jayden out of all people. Ah well, he gently strokes the top of her head with his thumb.

~~Your name would've been Babar if he were your trainer. Yes.~~]

[Pfft- Encouraging? Out of Norman? You're asking for too much out of him.]

Shaun's fine. Been training everyday since we got here. Hasn't been too down with all of those pokemon around him.

[Meanwhile- AUGH STEVE! You are the master of head pats! He must thank the Snubbullbull for the kind gesture.

Here buddy, have a seed straight from Alvin's mouth.]

[The Munna makes a happy sigh]

(feign man
nice fizzy fellow)

[Blake shifts and looks up at the blue sky.] That's good. All these little things, it's like the place is made for a kid. Or by one.

[They all sure seemed to take to it easier than Blake.]

[Oh! Steve appreciates the gesture, but is not sure if this is hygienic. She gives the seed a delicate sniff.]

[3] Video/Action for Violet City

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]