ripped | 06 ☣ video/action for vermillion

[Have a shot of Nero's hand, holding the Thunder Badge.]

That was a piece of cake after the hell that voodoo chick in Saffron put me through; finding that damn switch was a worse pain in my ass than breaking into HQ back home, though.

[He turns the camera around. His hair...well, let's just say that the levels of static electricity in the Vermillion gym are quite high, and leave it at that. Dandelion? Got nothin' on this.

Clearly Nero hasn't noticed, because he runs a hand through it, a bit impatient, only making it worse. Behind him, there's a snuffling sound, before a big, lumbering shape--his Druddigon, all teenage-gangliness and overenthusiastic movement--pushes her head affectionately against his side. She reaches up to fix his hair, but he doesn't know it, so he tilts his head away, letting her claw rub like sandpaper over his cheek. His eyes narrow.]

So, uh.

Anyone know how to make a pokemon like you...less?

[Because having a two-hundred-pound fangirl with scales like sandpaper hanging all over you during a gym match when you're trying to teach her how things are done is. Distracting.

Click.]

[private text message to Dante]

You made it to Cherrygrove yet?

[private text message to Miyuki]

Did you see the new breeding center eggs getting announced?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Gosh, wonder what Riku'll wind up looking like...

[What with having longer hair than them both. He takes a few moments to imagine it before moving on]

Have you told her you don't want her to?

[...ngl, that makes Nero smile a little.]

Does pushing her off count as telling her?

[It's a grand mental image, truly]

Sometimes, I think you have to be blunt. Level with her, she might not take that pushing to mean what you think it does.

[Yep. Nero turns his head a bit, gauging Victrix, who's still looking up at him with delight. With a sigh, he returns her to her pokeball.]

Guess I don't have much of a choice.

I'm sure it'll work out okay. She likes you a lot, so I doubt she means to do something that bugs you.

Well, yeah, which is why I don't wanna...you know, be too harsh on her.

[Nero, slowly learning to be kind to his pokemon. Baby steps.]

That's why I think you won't be too harsh, when you decide what you want to say.

[Caring makes a big difference, right? Sure it does]

[Gosh, all you people and your friendship. Bad influences, all of you. Clearly Vanitas needs to show up and be like JUST PUNCH HER--]

...Whatever. I'll handle it.

[There is an unspoken 'thank you' in there!]

[Perhaps, but would Nero take that advice? And hey, Ven's gotten used to Nero's type while he's been in this world, so he gets it]

Okay. Oh, and congratulations on your badge, I think I forgot to say that earlier.

[He understands punching a lot more than feelings, at any rate.]

Thanks. The guy's not a bad strategist; if the levels had been closer, he probably would've given me a hard time.

[But then, one of Nero's strongest is weak to electricity, so.]

The gym leaders over there do seem tougher. Haven't challenged them myself, but Riku had to go up against Sabrina twice.

Twice? I got her in one. Was he taking on that 'elite' team? I hear they're pretty badass.

I'm pretty sure he was, since nothing in Johto was really a challenge for him anymore. Something tough probably caught his interest in no time flat.

...In a way, I think losing might've been good for him, actually.

Get too used to winning, and it's bound to go to your head. Sore loser?

That's what I was thinking, Riku's got a lot of pride. Losing's pretty hard on him, but he does have determination.

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