003. Video/Action for Cherrygrove City, and also one other thing

[ardent]

[PRIVATE VIDEO TO COLONEL ARCHER]

[The video is short, only a few seconds long; the most that can really be gleaned from the background for the time being is that it sounds like there's ocean nearby, the surf splaying up against the rocks in the background. Ishimaru isn't really wasting time; he's here to say his piece and then move on, clearly.]

Good afternoon, Colonel Archer! I've done what you asked of me, with regards to getting Pokémon to be researched - I'm awaiting further instructions!

Thank you in advance for your time!


[VIDEO]

[For once the feed is showing somewhere other than Goldenrod when it flickers on; Ishimaru seems to have taken up refuge on one of the larger rocks near the beach in Cherrygrove. He's not too high up, because there's no sense in risking literally falling into what would surely be a really anticlimactic set of injuries; his expression on the video is still rather severe, but that's moreso due to just being how he is rather than him actually being displeased with anything.

Dear lord, though, is it overcast out here.]

While it troubles me to see how little people prioritize education and proper study over everything else, I understand that most see pointless activities as a -

[...he hesitates for a moment, flinching back a little and blinking at something that can't exactly be seen on the feed; he shakes his head after a second before moving on, seeming to decide that whatever small stimulus caused that isn't worth bothering with.]

...r-right, anyway!! People have been trying to explain why they engage in such senseless activities and that they don't see them as a...

...

...waste...of time...

[He twitches a little again, swiping across the bridge of his nose with two fingers and studying them intensely, as though understanding whatever he was swiping away is fundamental to saving the damn world.]

Is it raining...?

[It's about then that he looks up, and...]

...Kyohei, shut that off for a second -


[VIDEO, ABOUT TWO MINUTES AFTER THE FIRST.]

[Well! Ishimaru's no longer in view - it seems he's decided to hold the device instead - so it's a bit hard to tell if he's still got that immensely strict expression going on; however, the camera is slanted sharply skyward, toward that overcast sky. The angle isn't an error; rather, it's showing off some...rather thick white flakes falling from on high.

Snow in June? Snow in June. Thank you, mods.

Ishimaru can be heard laughing a bit in the background; the sound is oddly blunted, but it still the sound of a person that is approximately a thousand percent done with the day.]

This makes no sense whatsoever. None.

[At least it's too warm to stick for very long, though the moisture on the device is contributing to some awesome JJ Abrams lensflare effects.]

Tell me - is it doing this where any of you are as well, or...?

[The feed will shut off immediately after that's out there; those wanting action can find him wandering around Cherrygrove, looking incredulous as hell and, as Parker would describe it, he's definitely appreciating the sky today because good lord he cannot stop staring at this.

A thousand percent done.]

Comments

[VIDEO - LOCKED]

[sadisticwarfare]

It's good to hear from you. Which Pokémon did you end up getting?

[Yes, it's snowing outside. No, Archer is not outside. He retreated back to his room the moment he saw snow. You couldn't pay him enough to go out in that.]

[VIDEO - LOCKED]

[ardent]

[Well, he is still outside and completely and utterly incredulous, but he will at least pick up when he's called; he seems to have made his way back to those rocks, sitting down on one of them and...trying to ignore the flakes that are still coming down because what the gently caress.

You can have a salute for your effort, however, and it's as sharp as always! ...he doesn't hold it for very long because lord it's getting cold, but he tried.]

Likewise, Colonel!

I've gotten two so far - the first is a Ralts, around level fifteen or so by now; the second is a Munna, around level eight! I also have an Eevee, which I understand can be encouraged to evolve in that direction as well!

[VIDEO - LOCKED]

[sadisticwarfare]

Ah, excellent. I can assure you that Ralts is an excellent addition to any team, regardless of which form you choose to evolve it into.

[As for the other two, he has no experience with Espeon and Munna? ...Well...]

I must admit I'm surprised by your second choice. Munna isn't a particularly strong Pokémon, but I'm certain you can find a use for it. How have you been enjoying them so far?

[ardent]

[...uh well hang on here]

...Is there something I should know regarding evolving the Ralts?

[look he's still new to this whole Johto thing give him a break]

A-As for the second - it's very useful already! It may not be capable of battling very well yet, but that doesn't make it any less useful!

action!

[readapts]

[It's snowing...it's very much snowing and cold and Chihiro was outside training when it started. Because his starly is a fightmonger and loves to just encourage them to go out to the route or out about town once per day. Even more. The bird is all fluffed up on his shoulder now, displeased, occasionally chirping right into Chihiro's ear.

H-he's walking as fast as he can, because oh boy having a skirt on in this weather. There also seems to be a lump in the front of his shirt, where normally his chest is pretty flat.]

It's June...isn't it...? [he mutters, amazed.

And so he might be on the path heading toward Ishimaru but, well, not paying attention because there's snow and he's busy looking up at it falling. It'd be a lot nicer if he had a coat...and pants...]

action it is, then!

[ardent]

[Well, at the very least Ishimaru is...uh. Well, he's still about thirty seconds from just openly wondering if you can petition to mulligan an entire day because really now, but he is paying some attention to where he's going, simply because running into people while staring skyward isn't a thing that he's terribly interested in doing (nor would he forgive himself for his distraction because that is not acceptable no matter what the weather is doing, and he would be personally obligated to apologize for approximately the next year and let's just. not. with all that right now). So he'll notice Fujisaki eventually, thankfully before he smacks clear into the kid - though their proximity is still rather close when he manages to bring his usually brisk pace to a halt.]

...Fujisaki-kun?

[He sounds just about as incredulous as he did about the snowfall; however, this is definitely a good sort of incredulous, not an "oh god I cannot with anything right now" sort of incredulous, and though he doesn't move to touch he's most definitely pleased with this turn of events.]

There you are! It's fortunate that we managed to find each other so quickly, we've only just arrived recently; have you been well??

[readapts]

Wah--

[Chihiro jolts back into, well, paying attention, first when he notices something white that is not snow in his periphery, then hears his name. He looks up (always up why is Naegi the only other person near his height seriously), managing to stop in time without skidding too much on snow.]

Ishimaru-kun... [...a smile! What up.] It's good to see you!

[He's in pretty good spirits, clearly, though he might be shivering, slightly damp from the snowfall.] I've been good, though I'm sorry... I didn't realise you'd all be here today.

[Otherwise he would have-- well he wouldn't have thrown a welcoming party but at the very least they could've met somewhere warm. Then again who could've expected snow???]

1/3

[ardent]

Trust me, you have nothing to apologize for; there hasn't been much effective communication between us lately, unfortunately!!

[ardent]

[... ... ...]

You know, we really ought to fix that...or at the very least establish some sort of protocol, it's unacceptable as it stands, isn't it...

[ardent]

[RIGHT, right, there are more pressing things at hand here.]

Ah, but no matter - it's good to see you as well!

[Now let him get a look at you because it's been a while, and - ]

Aren't you cold?! You're completely underdressed for this weather, Fujisaki-kun, you're going to catch some sort of illness!

[video]

[captainash]

It's also doing it in Cianwood. On the beach. That's not natural.

[Biggest disappointment ever, thank you Johto.]

[video]

[ardent]

[Oh, good, someone else who sounds utterly done with this! ...seriously, though, this is more than slightly ridiculous.]

Yes, there's ocean near here as well! I'm not sure if the knowledge that this isn't restricted to Cherrygrove alone is comforting or cause for some sort of concern, but either way, this place is still insisting on not making any sense.

[video]

[captainash]

The weather is always the same everywhere, as far as I can tell. But even with that sort of unnatural behavior, you'd think it would have some standards. That kind of temperature drop can't possibly be good for a lot of Pokémon species.

[His point is somewhat undercut by the giggling Vanilluxe floating somewhere behind him, though.]

[video]

[ardent]

...Really, it's a wonder why half the species haven't died out by merit of location alone - though I guess if Caterpies can exist in the wild, then just about anything can with enough determination.

[ACTION]

[diamondo]

[You know what sucks about snow in June? There's not enough of it to make a snowball. Now what is he supposed to throw at the back of his brother's head? Rude, Johto.]

Hey, kyoudai!

[Well, there aren't any snowballs, but Mondo's still just as loud as usual, if not a bit more excited.]

Isn't this fucking awesome? Snow in June! This place is fucking crazy!

[Mondo doesn't look cold at all, but he is wearing a long coat. This one is white rather than the usual black, but it's sporting designs across the back as well. Blake is keeping up with Mondo, occasionally breaking away to chase after a particularly large snowflake. It's like the dog hasn't seen snow before.]

I just wish there was more snow! Snowball fights are so much fucking fun!

1/2

[ardent]

[...kyoudai, you are six...]

I don't think "awesome" is the word I'd use for this, but I'll agree that the place is crazy!

[No, really, he cannot with this.]

And besides, I wouldn't know; I've never really done those sorts of things in the first place -

[ardent]

[...oh god.]

...And now that I've said that, you're going to use that as an excuse to encourage such things this winter, aren't you?

[diamondo]

You fucking bet I am! Or y'know, if there's more snow now, that'd work too!

[But the idea of Ishimaru never getting into a snowball fight is rather depressing. At least he never played as rough as Mondo did - if he left the snowball fight with only a few bruises it was a good day, and you'd better believe he never had "good days" - but that didn't mean he'd take it easy on Ishimaru!

...He would hold off on putting rocks in the snowballs though. He's not interested in hurting Ishimaru or trying to pick a fight with him.]

Man, it'll be great! Hopefully some of the others'll be here by then - we can have a fucking massive snowball fight and it'll be amazing!

[...yeah and just how many of their classmates would actually participate in this...?]

[ardent]

[It's not depressing, it's just not anything he's ever had the inclination to do! ...mostly because he didn't have the time due to studying so much! ...nor did he have friends to do it with!

...all right, it's sort of depressing...

But really, if we're going to do this sort of thing, we're going to have some rules laid down, the first of which being no rocks, goddamn - you're right about him not playing nearly as rough as you do, when you can get him to play at all.]

I should hope there won't be more snow now - imagine what that says about the length of the seasons here...!

But either way, I'm not making any promises about participating in anything like that!

[video]

[digitalorunknown]

[You go on with your incredulous self, Ishimaru. Some people are enjoying this bit of meteorological frivolity.

Which is to say oh my gosh it's all floaty and cold this is so fun

The video itself should answer that last question - snowflakes are clumped in Dorumon's hair and on his (short-sleeved...) shirt, and he's shivering a little even with a poofy Starkly on one shoulder and a poofy Meowth on the other. He's half-grinning despite the obvious cold, as though he'd been laughing before sitting down to check the Gear.

There's also some sort of animal commotion off in the distance - the audible portion of a Dragon-type being loud and angry at the sky and not caring who hears him - but that's not important.]

Isn't it amazing? [SPARKLE SPARKLE you don't understand how awesome today is. Then again, you also know what hypothermia is...]

[anyways] I'm not worried about wasting time, since there's nothing to worry about in the future. [The grin fades into a vague thoughtful expression.] I mean, I don't know about anything. But if there was...then that would be different.

[video]

[ardent]

[Ah, it's you again!

Ishimaru is more than willing to listen to all that, despite the fact that lawd that is a lot of sparkle isn't it, and it's only toward the end that he realizes that dear god it's you again.

Seriously, kid, things like that should not be coming out of your mouth. Both because that's kind of morbid and because it makes Ishimaru sort of want to adopt you and do we all realize exactly how bad an idea it is to put Ishimaru directly in charge of a small living being with humanoid intelligence

do we all realize what a bad idea that is

But anyway, first things first - ]

Whether there's anything in the future to worry about or not, you ought to take better care of yourself - you're underdressed for the weather, you're going to catch your death out there!!

Re: [video]

[digitalorunknown]

[Topic successfully diverted! Dorumon blinks for a moment, jaw dropping a little - then it registers, and he radiates quiet alarm as he half-stands and glances around. He's not quite sure what Ishimaru means, so...well, it doesn't hurt to check the obvious.]

What do you mean?

Voice

[strongestoftheturks]

[Oh dear. Rude has always been a bit...doubtful about Ishimaru's sanity.]

...you ok?

[ardent]

[Well, he'd argue that it's Johto that's insane here, not him, but he does seem a bit calmer when he responds.

...still about a thousand percent done with the day, but it could be worse.]

Ah - yes, of course!

[...what an odd thing to ask, though. huh.]

And yourself?

[look at these social skills.]

[strongestoftheturks]

I'm fine.

[Rude's not exactly the best at being social himself either. There's a significant pause on his end as he wonders what else is there to say.]

...this place.

It's weird.