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

[video]

[quickattackjack]

What an interesting question! Trick or Treat seems to be the motto where I'm from, but since coming here, though I'd never thought to bring it up to anyone before, We're not dead yet is another.

[video]

[ardent]

Ah - "We're not dead yet"...?

[Well that certainly is something that just happened - either your circumstances are worse than his or your life is somehow zen on a level that he cannot comprehend.]

That's one way to look at it, I guess, but what brings that on in the first place?

[video]

[quickattackjack]

_{[Jack chuckles a bit.]}

Well, I used to be quite dead. And though, in some ways I preferred it that way, it's good to remind yourself of the way things are and how nothing is really over until it's over.

[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.

action;

[superordinary]

[ When Naegi went out for his daily training session on Route 35, he didn't quite expect to see this. With his Furret at his heels, he stops to watch whatever Ishimaru is trying to accomplish. Emphasis on trying.

...Well, that was one spectacular failure to say the least. Ishimaru deserves a gold star with "You tried" written on it in Comic Sans, really. ]

Um, what were you doing just now, Ishimaru-kun?

action;

[ardent]

[That...pretty much sums up Ishimaru's entire existence, let's not lie to ourselves here.

At any rate, however, he doesn't seem to be in low spirits about it, and he will just kind of turn to Naegi with his arms occupied by the failfish - it's putting a bit of a damper on the usual massive gestures, but no one here said that's exactly a bad thing.]

Ah, Naegi-kun! It's good to see you out here - I've been training the animals I've been given!

[...his fish is still looking immensely pleased with whatever that failure was back there and the Shinx behind him is looking like it has run out of fucks to give about life in general.

TRAINING, NAEGI!!!]

[superordinary]

I... see. [ At least he's enthusiastic about it, he thinks to himself. The Furret tilts its head to the side curiously and stands up on its hind legs to get a better view of the fish in Ishimaru's arms. Yep, that sure looks like a big failure. ]

How's it going so far? Magikarp is a pretty difficult Pokémon to raise.

[Video]

[whateveryoueatliveitspart]

Grandpa always told me, "Be it grass, fruit, or beasts, whatever you eat, you have to live its part. Don't waste a thing." I've always done my best to do that.

[Video]

[ardent]

[It takes him a moment to respond, and when he does, it's a bit subdued; not due to anything striking him badly and more that he can't be entirely certain of what's being said. He's never really been good with sayings that slip back and forth between literal and metaphorical, and that does it twice as far as he can see.]

Ah...respecting the sanctity of life, right?

[Video]

[whateveryoueatliveitspart]

[Apollo nods slightly.]

Humans can't live without taking other lives, so whenever you kill someone [plants and animals are people to him] you can't waste their life. You have to eat everything you can, and any part of them that you can't eat you have to make sure gets used somehow by someone. And even after their body is gone they still live on inside you, so you have to live in their place for them and everyone else who you've eaten, because they can't live in their own place anymore.

Text

[strongestoftheturks]

Complete the mission any way possible.

Text

[ardent]

[You know, somehow at this point he's not even surprised...

However, you will get text in return, simply because the idea of rendering this some sort of odd PokéSkype experience isn't really his idea of a good time, it'll feel weird. At least there will be far less shouting and the conversation might actually appear halfway sane?]

I can appreciate the sense of morale, but I can't agree with the message itself - if it's saying what I think it is, anyway.

Text

[strongestoftheturks]

It's not for everyone.

[He concedes that point.]

The message isn't bad. It just depends on the mission.

[ video ]

[gracefall]

Um...there were a lot of those kinds of phrases. [ give her a second to see if she can think of one she actually follows. ]

If you can't win, run!

[ video ]

[ardent]

[...well, he can't say he disagrees with that any, now, can he.]

Well, that's one way of looking at it, isn't it! Living to fight another day and all that...!

[video]

[soundmind]

Courage.

[Yep, that's all there is to it.]

That's what my mom told me, always have courage even if you're afraid.

[video]

[ardent]

[oh good lord Maka look what you did you've gone and gotten him all shounen with that - ]

Ah, Albarn-kun! Wise words to live by indeed - especially since courage isn't a lack of fear, but the fortitude to persevere through the fear itself!

video;

[angerpoints]

[Geez, who the hell is this try-hard? Well, whatever. Yusuke doesn't have anything better to do, so he figures, whatever, might as well go ahead and offer his input, since What's-His-Name here is practically busting his vocal cords fishing around for it. Stand by for some awful Shounen Hero Advice:]

"If someone tries to mess with you, kick their ass." That's always worked for me.

[~*~inspiring~*~. Also SPEAKING OF TRY-HARDS...]

video;

[ardent]

[Well, aren't you edgy? At any rate, he's not looking too impressed over here; he's also not getting any less shouty - hopefully you are down with the sheer amount of YELLING!! because this is not going away anytime soon, buddy.]

And what sort of person are you, that lives by such words?! You sound like some sort of delinquent!

[video]

[digitalorunknown]

[Words to live by? A certain face, and a bittersweet feeling, flash out from Dorumon's memory at the phrase.

Hmm.]

"Live on."

[video]

[ardent]

[Ishimaru is really starting to get the impression, judging by all of the responses he's gotten to these posts of his, that this world is some sort of general meeting place for those from inherently depressing worlds. Those particular words themselves wouldn't bother him quite so much if they weren't coming from someone so young; he can't articulate why, exactly, but that bothers him on a fundamental level.

...as it stands, however, he doesn't have a lot of experience interacting with people younger than his peer group; this is going to be interesting. At least he's gotten the basic idea down that one probably shouldn't scream at the kids unless they've done something to warrant the screaming; his tone is still blunted as hell but at least it's a bit gentler in general.]

Those are very strong words to live by, I think. Where did you receive them from?

[video]

[lieutenantantichrist]

[Just looking at the kid standing like that makes Blake's back hurt.]

"Shoot first."

And one just for you; "Settle down before you sprain something."

[video]

[ardent]

[...Blake, one day you will learn that sarcasm doesn't work very well on this kid.]

While I appreciate the concern, Lieutenant Blake, there's no need to worry; I feel fine!

[Whooooooosh, there it goes.

However, thankfully there's something else to address so that this might not be a total loss here.]

But even if I can see where you're coming from - I think - with shooting first, I would think it would be preferred to not shoot at all!