006. Text/Action for Violet City

[ardent]

[TEXT]

[Today's post is a bit different, the usual video completely absent; he's not been much in the mood for talking to others lately.

However, there are reasons why he thinks he probably should. So text it is.]

As much as we don't always understand or like it very much, the experiences we've had in this place are things to be cherished, I think. It's a good opportunity that we've been given, to meet others we might never have known and share ideas that we might never have come across otherwise.

I feel very blessed to have met all of you. If I haven't spoken to you, then I want to eventually; I'm sure there are things we can learn from one another, if given the opportunity. I still haven't found what it is I'm supposed to do with myself here - but I don't think that stagnation is acceptable, either. For now, I think "working on making things right" is a satisfactory goal, and one that I need to keep in mind more often, maybe.

Either way, I hope that today is a good and productive day for you - and if not, that tomorrow will be better.

[...it's a little subdued and Not Exactly Okay - by Ishimaru's usual standards, anyway - but he sends it anyway; it's just something he's needed to get out there, really.

Somebody's dealing with his first sudden-disappearance-from-Johto experience over here; it's not going too well, but he's trying to get back on track the only way he really knows how.]


[ACTION]

[Ishimaru's been making himself scarce lately; he's used the few days he's had since turning twenty to throw himself into being a complete workaholic, and while that's been good for replenishing what he's spent (and he's been spending much more than usual over the last couple of weeks, something he's been feeling intensely guilty about), there have been other abovementioned reasons for his radio silence and general avoidance of everyone.

But he's off today and the streets of Violet City are welcome, even if he does seem a bit jittery. He's out of his normal uniform, for one thing, and it's still something he's completely unused to - the military-style boots are the same, of course, but he's got black pants on under them, the stiff ones he usually uses for travelling purposes despite the fact that he's doing nothing of the sort just now; as for the rest...he has no idea where Naegi even found the thing in Johto, but he is currently +1 trendy-as-hell hoodie, white with red and black accents and more zippers than he knows what to do with. He still feels more than a bit out-of-place wearing it, but it's something he could get used to. Maybe. The hood's dropped back over his shoulders; it seems to be...weirdly weighted down by something, and if he's seen at the right moment, there's what's undeniably some sort of cat in there, peeking out over his shoulder. Meowth, from the look of it. A very, very runty one, but a Meowth regardless.

Of course, he's got other reasons for the nerves, apparently; he comes to a stop outside the local bar, looking up at it in the way that one does when they know they have absolutely no reason for going in there and are probably going to get thrown out because...well, god only knows why. It's a ridiculous notion, especially given that no one here seems to care about the local drinking age, if one even exists; Oowada had taken him in there shortly after his birthday, and he's come back frequently since, immediately after he's off work. Which wouldn't be too weird - he can do as he pleases, after all - if he didn't get off work in the middle of the afternoon.

Clearly, it's five o'clock somewhere.

However, once he slips inside, he's actually not interested in drinking; what's got his attention is the billiards table in the back room. That's where he goes immediately, setting the Meowth down on one of the nearby stools before picking one of the cue sticks off the back wall. It's not high-quality (nor is the table, really) but he's not going to complain; it's just for the sake of amusing himself, anyway. He'd noticed the setup when he'd come in here the first time, with Oowada; he hadn't played then, but it's what he's been coming back for.

Pool is geometry, when it comes down to it - geometry and physics, all angles and force and arcs; even so, he's still not sure where he picked up how to play. It's just something he knows how to do; if he were to dwell on it for long enough, he'd likely think that it's something he doesn't remember due to the incident in the school. But for now, he doesn't want to think; he racks up easily, and when he shoots, the break is a clean one.]

Comments

[ardent]

[It's not so much that he's dismissing it as it is that he doesn't know how to handle it, and setting some sort of routine is important to him when he doesn't know how to handle things. He's always been a planner, always trying to think toward future goals and not dwelling on the present; it's gotten him through a lot so far, and he's certain it'll get him through now.

He doesn't quite realize how cold it looks, but so it goes.]

Ah, I remember you telling me about that; there's apparently a gym there as well, the most difficult in the region. It might be good to challenge ourselves, don't you think?

[diamondo]

Yeah! The Gym here was way too easy! I bet we'll actually have fun with the toughest Gym, y'know?

[Mondo brightens considerably at that; the idea of traveling with Ishimaru again actually excites him as opposed to anything else. The hot springs will certainly be interesting as well and something else to look forward to.]

[ardent]

Excellent! We should likely spend a couple of days in Goldenrod, to let our Pokémon rest up before we leave and to make sure Celes-kun stays out of trouble; we can go to Ecruteak from there - I think there's a badge to be won in that city as well - and then farther north.

[Well, he certainly seems pleased; he sets his hand down on the table again, focusing intently on the four ball before banking it hard off the felt-covered side of the table, driving it solidly into another one of the pockets.]

I'm looking forward to it!

[diamondo]

That sounds great! I doubt we'll have any difficulty with that Gym, so it shouldn't take us all that long to get to Blackthorn!

[Mondo watches Ishimaru sink the shot, grinning widely.]

Damn, you're really good at this! You sure you haven't played before?

[ardent]

[He just tips his head a bit at that question.]

Of course I am - I never really had time for anything like this back home.

[diamondo]

Yeah? Well, I guess you're a natural then!

[Maybe he should have been admitted to Hope's Peak as the SHSL Billiards Player...]

[ardent]

[He's not that good...]

I...I suppose. It's not really anything I've been dwelling on.

[He shrugs a little before leaning forward again, setting up another shot.]

It's relaxing, anyway!

[diamondo]

I'm glad you're having fun, then!

[It really is nice to see Ishimaru enjoying himself--

ooh

that is a nice position, kyoudai, just stay right there

holy shit dat ass

just let him stare for a moment okay]

[ardent]

Yes, well, it's not something I engage in often - but I suppose once in a while it's all right, isn't it?

[...thankfully he's utterly oblivious to you doing that, because what the hell, kyoudai. Just. Let him take his shot, okay, he won't be here forever.]

[diamondo]

Yeah, 'course it is.

[aww do you have to move

well, it was nice while it lasted]

[ardent]

[...yes, he...did...]

Kuwata-kun seems to be under the impression that I need to work on it.

[diamondo]

You really could stand to have a bit more fun, y'know.

[But that's said teasingly! It's as if he totally wasn't staring at your ass five seconds ago!

...Probably because he's too stupid to realize he was legitimately staring at your ass. Whoops.]

[ardent]

[...your life, your choices, kyoudai.

Though it's not really like Ishimaru's paying much attention to it either; after all, that's a bit of an odd assumption to make just because why would you.]

Ah, do you think so? I mean, it's not like there's a way to gauge that, how much one should be having or not!

[..........]

...Is there?

[diamondo]

Well, you're so serious all the time! You could stand to lighten up a bit! It'd be nice if you did shit like this more often - y'know, just doing what you want to do and having fun with it rather than always focusing on work and shit like that.

[ardent]

Would it?

[As though this isn't anything he'd considered before; he tenses up again quickly, as though trying to cover up for the momentary falter there.]

For the most part, work is what I want to do - and besides, there's nothing to be gained from things like this! Nothing useful, anyway!!

[...Mnnngh. Just. Let him glance at the table again.]

...It...is enjoyable, though. Once in a while.

[diamondo]

It's relaxing, and you could really use that sometimes, kyoudai!

[He knows there's no point in trying to argue whether or not this is useful; Ishimaru obviously doesn't think it is and there's nothing that will change his mind on it.]

[ardent]

...W-Well, I guess so. Overworking yourself isn't really good either...

[Look he's trying, okay

how do you people deal with this whole "having a life" thing anyway >:T ]

[diamondo]

Yeah! Exactly! 'Sides, now that we're here, you can relax a bit more! You don't need to push yourself so hard! We're already doing great as far as the training thing goes anyway!

[~It is a mystery~]

[ardent]

Maybe. I just don't really like being idle...

[Hm.]

What do you plan on doing, kyoudai? Since we're going to be here for a long time, I mean.

[diamondo]

Well... I think I'll focus on getting all the Gym Badges. There's a lot of places to explore too, so I'll be taking my time traveling too. Outside of that... I dunno. There are a lot of Pokémon to train, so I guess I'll focus on raising different kinds after I'm done with the Badges and shit.

[He shrugs. He's not really entirely sure what he'll do here; he hasn't given it much thought.]

What about you?

[ardent]

...I don't know. That's what's been bothering me - I'm used to having something definite to work toward.

[diamondo]

I'm sure you'll figure something out! We've got a lot of time to figure shit out here anyway, so I know you'll come up with something eventually! Until then, you can always stick with me!

[He laughs, intending that to be a joke. It's not really a joke at all though; he certainly wouldn't mind having Ishimaru stick with him.]

[ardent]

[Well, whatever the intention may have been, it seems to have gone directly over Ishimaru's head; rather, Mondo's words seem to have genuinely pleased him.]

Of course, kyoudai - why wouldn't I? Even after I work things out for myself, I still won't want to be too far from you; you're too important to me for that!

[diamondo]

I'm glad to hear it!

[He certainly is, and if he wasn't holding your runty Meowth, he'd get up and brohug you.]

I wouldn't want to be too far from you either!

[ardent]

I'm always going to want to be in touch with you, at least, even if we aren't physically close; this place makes it a bit easier to do that. But I'm never going to leave you forever, I promise.