002. Video/Action for Route 35 (just outside Goldenrod)

[ardent]

[VIDEO]

[Well, today's video from Ishimaru is no less shouty than the first, though he seems to be less...manically enthusiastic this time around. Surely, this is progress!

Or, well, it would be, if it weren't so damn awkward-looking; he hasn't quite gotten the hang of addressing large groups of people over the feed like this, and as such his posture is a bit too tight, arms folded close against his chest, and his expression is still incredibly severe, though it's difficult to tell if it's through anger or just sheer...uh, passion. Let's. Let's call it that.

That said, he's still outside, seeming to be on one of the routes, the device apparently propped up on something; Goldenrod's skyline is rather visible close behind him, though, so he obviously hasn't gone too far.]

Through both my own curiosity and in the name of a personal project I'm undertaking, I have a request for the rest of you that have found yourselves in this place! It's not very much, and will only take a moment of your time - but if you have any sort of particular life motto or words that you happen to live by, I would like to hear them! If you have several, I would like all of them...and if you don't happen to have any, I'm sure that others would be willing to inspire you, should you want it!!

[...honey.]

Otherwise, keep your heads up and your gazes trained toward the horizon; it's been a beautiful day today - if a bit wet out sometimes - and hopefully a highly productive one for all of you!

[Okay, so he still hasn't quite learned how to people. He's working on it...]


[ACTION]

[Well! It seems that Ishimaru vs. Johto has not been going too badly lately - if the Shinx in front of him is any indication, he's managed to capture something halfway useful (and not Team Rocket property), at least. Now, if he can only work out what to do with the fish he's been given...

Today he is standing around on Route 35 near the entrance to Goldenrod, still wearing that pristine white uniform, hands firmly on hips and just looking like the most demented little drill instructor ever; he's got the fish on one side of his tiny makeshift battlefield, the Shinx on the other, and it's obvious that the Shinx's role in the proceedings is to stand there and be patient while Ishimaru tries to work out how to actually do something with the Magikarp.

To its credit, said Magikarp is flopping about heroically; Splash may be useless, but god, this thing is trying harder than He-Man in this institution. And to his own credit, Ishimaru is clearly trying to be encouraging, though judging from the weird pitchy quality to his voice he's more than slightly unsure of what to do with this poor stupid thing.]

Ah, that was better - that was much better! The...the height on that was very impressive!

[He withdraws a bit after that, posture-wise, his stance tightening while he thinks; there has to be some way to utilize this...]

...Have you tried just landing on your target, instead of staying over there?

[The Magikarp looks at his trainer like he may have, in fact, just received divine revelation; Ishimaru grins.]

Go on, then! Show Yoritsugu the force of your effort!

[Yoritsugu (that would be the Shinx, who is now seriously wondering why on earth he had to be caught by this fuckin' guy) just kind of stares at both of them as though minds have definitely been lost; however, that Magikarp seems to be feeling particularly empowered - Splash goes off without a hitch, this time aimed directly at the Shinx, and it...!!

...it...goes about as well as one would expect, really. There certainly was a lot of effort, but as Splash deals no damage whatsoever, there wasn't a whole lot of effect with the effort; it's managed to push Yoritsugu into the ground due to sheer weight and physics, but otherwise...yeeeah.

As such, for a long, awkward moment there is a completely bewildered Shinx splayed out on the ground with a fish on its back; after a while, said fish just kind of...slides off sideways onto the ground, and Ishimaru busies himself with burying his face in his hands, uttering a very muffled "Why..." once he's there.

However, once Ishimaru manages to compose himself well enough to actually look back up, that fish is looking proud as hell because good lord, trainer, it did a thing! Kinda! ...Yeah, Ishimaru just kind of smiles again, the expression clearly exasperated, as he moves to pick it up; the fish just...wriggles a bit as he does so, but at least it's not trying to get away.]

Yes, well. That was a splendid attempt indeed!

[Just. So much awkward, forced laughter because this is totally a good thing, right

...orz

Feel free to try to save the idiot and the fish from themselves; they could probably use the break.]

Comments

[ACTION]

[diamondo]

[Mondo stands back, watching for a moment as Ishimaru deals with his fish. He was thankfully given useful Pokémon and hasn't had to deal with useless Pokémon like that fish.]

Well, at least you're trying...

[He laughs, clapping a hand to Ishimaru's shoulder.]

C'mon, you look like you could use a break, aniki!

[ardent]

[Mondo you are going to make him drop the fish hang on just let him readjust his grip on it because goodness this thing is squirmy - ]

He's doing very well - far better than he has been!! I've no doubt that he'll be able to join my team properly before long!

[Look, he is a little defensive over this veritable armful of failure he has going on over here, okay.]

But perhaps a break to regroup would be good; there's no point in burning out...

[diamondo]

Yeah, I'm sure if anyone can train a fish like that it's you! You'll make it work for you!

[He genuinely does believe that but boy, it's gonna take a lot of work...]

You wanna go back into town? We could grab a bite to eat or just explore or something.

[ardent]

We should probably continue seeing whether there's anything in this town we should take note of - exploring sounds fine!

[Just...let him recall poor Yoritsugu over there, as the Shinx is still just kind of flopped on the ground looking like he is completely out of fucks to give. He nearly drops the fish again in trying to get that Pokéball out, because his grip is really awkward and just - here, let him set it on the ground and recall both of them, that works a bit better.]

I needed to talk to you about something eventually anyway.

[diamondo]

Oh, yeah? What is it?

[Mondo doesn't sound worried at all though. He grins and slaps Ishimaru on the back again.]

Well, c'mon, let's get going then! I'm sure we'll find something interesting today!

[ardent]

[Well! At least Mondo's enthusiasm is more than enough motivation for him to get moving; the shounen tends to be stronger with this one when he's surrounded by it, after all. Come on, Mondo, let's go; we're capable of talking and wandering around aimlessly at the same time.]

It's about a few of the others in the organization - I mentioned it briefly when we were out with Naegi-kun, but I think there's at least one who might be able to help us.

[diamondo]

Oh? Who is it? What do you think they'll be able to do to help us?

[He glances at Ishimaru, interested. That certainly sounds more promising than anything he's found so far!]

[ardent]

She's a woman named Alice White - she's been very kind so far, and she said she helps people like us against people like them.

[...]

She also said she's a spy of some sort.

[diamondo]

Ah, really? That does sound pretty useful! A spy though? You sure she's trustworthy?

[ardent]

Why would she offer to help us otherwise? Besides, we're friends.

[Like this explains everything.]

[diamondo]

...Didn't you just meet her?

[Not that that's really a good criteria to decide whether or not someone's a friend; they've pretty much done that with their classmates, after all...]

And who knows? I just don't think it's wise to go around trusting everyone you meet, y'know?

[ardent]

By that same logic, I just met you, and Naegi-kun as well!

[I'm sorry, were you expecting him to have tact about this?]

[diamondo]

[...Sigh...]

Well... well yeah, but blindly trusting people is never a good thing, aniki!

[ardent]

It's not blind trust - it's something different with Alice-san, believe me.

I want you to meet with her; she thinks talking to you would be a good idea!

[diamondo]

...You're on first-name basis with her?

[That's uh... interesting...]

But yeah, sure, I'll meet with her. I'd like to see how she's made such a big impression on you already.

[...Unless you're always like this...]

[ardent]

Good! I'm positive you'll like her, aniki, she's very nice, and a very good person!

...but as for the name, I thought it was strange as well and told her as much, but she seemed to prefer it...

[...orz]

[diamondo]

Oh, is she from Europe or something? That would make sense then!

[He relaxes a bit at that. It's good to hear that Ishimaru isn't just calling her by first name for no reason. That would be weird.]

[ardent]

[...aniki the girl's name is Alice White for the love of god]

Ah, she's not Japanese, definitely, though I was never told where she's from - she may be European, she may be American, I wouldn't be surprised either way.

[He falls quiet for a moment after that; it isn't...the only advancement he's made in terms of talking to people in the organization and he really doesn't like keeping secrets, but just the same...]

Have you managed to find out anything yet?

[diamondo]

[...shut up...]

Nothing much. I saw that a couple of higher-ups showed back up here, but that's about it.

[He shrugs. He doesn't want to tell Ishimaru that he's talked to one of them, but he doesn't like keeping secrets either. Still, he was told not to be reckless, so... He'll just keep quiet for now!]

[ardent]

...Likewise! Outside of this business with Alice-san, I mean!

[...orz

MOVING ON.]

There's someone else I've been speaking to that seems convinced that time doesn't pass for the others back in our world - not while we're here. So that particular theory seems to be true, thankfully!

[diamondo]

[Mondo relaxes immediately at that. While it's possible that this person was lying to Ishimaru, he doesn't see any reason for it. It's much easier to believe that it's the truth.]

Good! I'd hate to think that they're back there, being tortured by that fucking bear. I'm guessing you've got no leads on how to bring 'em here either?

[ardent]

[...oh, come on, you had to bring that up...]

Well...unfortunately not...

[diamondo]

Ah, hey aniki, don't feel bad! I haven't found anything either! But don't worry, we'll figure something out!

[ardent]

O-Of course we will!

[There's an element of bravado to it, but at least he's trying to keep his spirits up.]

We'll bring them here, and everything will work out in the end!

[He hasn't discussed that conversation they had with Naegi since the day they'd had it - not with Mondo, or with anyone else for that matter. It's no one else's business, after all, and it's...not a topic he really cares to revisit with those whose business it actually is. It still weighs on his mind from time to time, and it resurfaces somewhat unpleasantly now; he'll try to push it away for the time being because really, Ishimaru, now isn't the time.]

[diamondo]

[It's quite alright, he understands that feeling entirely. He's been avoiding any topic that's even remotely related to what they spoke of and he's not interested in bringing it up either.]

Yeah! So don't worry, okay? We'll figure out a way to save them all!

[...Well, the ones that are left, anyway...]