ripped | 05 ☣ video/action for route 7

[The feed opens on Buster, glowing. Red looks mildly annoyed, because her marvellous evolution wasn't video-taped. Buster himself is shuffling around, trying to avoid the camera.]

Come on, don't tell me you're getting shy now. I told Nanako she'd get to see.

[Hey, it's a big step in the life of a Bagon! What if his wings are too small? WHAT IF HIS TAIL IS FAT, GUYS. Red says something, probably offensive, which at least gets Buster to stop actively running away. If the bitch can do it, so can he, dammit.

Buster caves and lets the glow settle over him, hunching down as if to pounce. It's clear that under the light the great big cocoon of a shell his body has been hiding in is cracking and peeling, his form doubling, tripling in size—Nero and Red are forced to back up, and finally the wings unfurl, huge red arcs sailing overhead. Nero chuckles, a little breathless, pleased and impressed.

The glow fades, revealing...Buster, bigger, huge, badder, teeth the size of knives, yellow eyes the size of dinner plates and a great big set of horns on either side of his head. And wings. Wings more than big enough to fly on. The remains of his shell are now a hard casing that shields his underside, protecting his belly from threats below. (Also his tail is not fat. In fact, it is muscular and sexy. You know, if you like dragons in that way.)

Buster's first order of business (after checking himself out) is to roar in Red's face. FUCK YOU, BITCH!!!!!!!

Aww yeah, that felt good.]

Hey, not ba—hey!

[The 'gear goes tumbling as Buster then lunges for Nero, snagging his teeth in the young man's jacket and...yanking him up and over the Salamence's broad back. Attack his trainer? More like taking him for a test drive. Nero barely has time to regain his composure before Buster unceremoniously—kind of trips over his own wing okay, you can evolve and look badass but dignity is apparently not included in the package, and—takes off. The last sound is Nero's exhilarated whoop and Red's unhappy snort.

The 'gear lands in the grass and switches off.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Well yeah, best defense and all, but I had Red to back him up for that, and he could tank for her. It worked. Gotta keep your options open.

Yeah, you're right.... Y'know, Pokémon training's not all that different from tennis. If you're an all-rounder, you've got more options than, like, a defensive baseliner — or someone who only trains Fire-types.

I guess I've kinda been training how I play: aggressive net games, Pokémon style. [ She laughs a little. ]

Tennis...? Huh. That's an analogy I haven't heard before.

I've played since I was little. I'd kick your butt in tennis, too.

[ This, matter-of-factly. Also lol like she's still not little ahahaha— ]

Littler than you already are? [The potshot took itself, okay.] And I'm not even gonna argue that--don't know the first thing about tennis.

[ Yeah, she knows it, too. She gets enough shit from her brother that she just rolls her eyes and gives Nero a snide look. Ahaha, you're so funny, jerkface. ]

I could teach you. I'm a good coach.

[ No, really, she is. ]

Nah, I think I'll pass on the rackets. Organized sports isn't my thing.

[Nero was always the last kid picked in dodgeball--not because he was bad, just because he massacred all the other kids so ruthlessly the teachers eventually stopped letting him play.]

[ Hey, in the world she comes from, massacring your opponents ruthlessly is a valid way of winning a tennis match. Extra badass points if they bleed, forfeit the match or wind up in a full body cast! ]

If you say so. Might help you blow off some steam, though. [ Check this sassy eyebrow. She thinks you need anger management, Nero. ]

You think I wanna deal with other people when I need to blow off steam? That's a laugh.

[Nevermind a racket and ball. Not even denying he's got a temper. He knows it! He tries not to consciously let it show, but, uh, it's kind of a defining trait. Y e p.]

I'll take up flying, instead. 'Cause that--[Giving the dormant Buster a glance.]--was amazing.

[ She looks more than a little enviously in Buster's direction. ]

Yeah, no kidding. [ A beat. ] Have you never flown on your Charizard before?

[One day, Miyuki, you'll have a Dragonite, and then there will be no jealousy, only GOTTA GO FAST.]

Nah. Red wouldn't let me, and besides, you need that special move to ride 'em. Buster got it when he evolved.

[ She's gonna have at least three rideable, flyable Pokémon eventually. ]

Oh, yeah? You can teach a Charizard Fly, but you've gotta have the badges from Violet and... like, Cianwood? I think? [ She shrugs. ] By the time my Bagon hits level whatever-they-evolve at, I'll probably have both. I mean, I've already got the Zephyr Badge, so.

Yeah, the badge from Celadon lets me use the move, but I don't actually have it. Freakin' annoying system, if you ask me.

Yeah, the Zephyr Badge lets you use it, but you don't get it until Cianwood, which is like... way the heck up north. Pretty sure if you've got the badge to use it, you can just borrow it from someone, though.

[A nod.] S'why I figured I'd get the badge while I was in the neighborhood. Kyrie and I are thinking of heading back to Goldenrod at some point.

[Maybe once the weather gets better, because like hell he's gonna make her hike in the cold and the snow.]

[ Whoops — check this mischievous grin spreading — ]

Ooooh, Kyrie~? ♥

My girl.

[DID YOU EXPECT HIM TO HAVE A ~SECRET CRUSH~ FOR YOU TO EXPLOIT, MIYUKI.]

[ WELL, SHE WAS HOPING.

She crinkles her nose and laughs a little, apparently undecided as to whether this is cute or gross. ]

Is she pretty?

[ Priorities. ]

Gorgeous. But hey, don't take my word for it.

[Biased, so biased. And yet, Kyrie is close enough that he can turn the gear just a little, showing Miyuki the girl with the red hair. 'Gorgeous' is perhaps strong, but pretty? Kyrie is very conventionally pretty.]

[ Okay, so it's cute. She grins and ducks her head. ]

She is pretty. Is she from your world?

[He's grinning too, amused by her reaction. Is she bashful? Teasing is one thing, but he doesn't want to honestly make her uncomfortable: she's still only a child, after all.]

Uh-huh. I got lucky, she wound up here just a few weeks after I did.

[ She's not bashful, just ten, and growing out of her 'kissing is gross' phase. The transition isn't a graceful one. ]

Good thing you've got someone to keep you from punching out all of Kanto, I guess.

[ She lays her head on the side with a little smile. Matters of romance are still out of her grasp, really, but she's getting closer. ]

[That makes him sober up a little, if only at the thought that Kyrie might leave.]

Hey, the punching was only once.

[Pause.]

Okay, twice. But that doesn't mean it's a thing.

[ Now her grin is wry. ]

How many times can a dude punch someone without it being a thing, Metal-bro?

[He holds up 3 fingers.]

Three strikes, you're out, isn't it?

video;

comeatmibro - 2012-02-13 17:17 (UTC) - Expand

ripped - 2012-02-15 05:14 (UTC) - Expand