ripped | 07 ☣ video

[Nero looks tired, a bit grim, like he's been thinking too much. He's sitting on some crates in Cerulean, either just about to just having finished some heavy lifting. Beside him is Basilisk, still a houndour and still as icy and collected in temperament, his fur wet for reasons yet unexplained.]

Got the Cascade badge. This guy did a number on that Starmie.

[Ah, so that would be why. There's a spot of hesitation in Nero's voice when he glances at the Houndour: with Agnus here, the name, which seemed clever at the time, makes bile rise in his throat.]

Might cross Mt Moon to get to Pewter, haven't decided yet. Apparently it takes a while to get through. [It's strange for him to actively want to be away from Kyrie, so he's naturally hesitating. Flying back to Vermillion and then taking Diglett's Cave would be quicker, but...] Man, after all that trash I could use some time off, though. Dante, Trish--Miyuki said she wanted to head to Cinnabar and see the beach. You guys up for it? If you take the train to Saffron, I could meet you there once I'm done with this crap.

[There's some sound, so Nero flips the gear to show his new baby Deino. She's got her face rammed into her food bowl, little puff of a tail wiggling behind her, not unlike a dog. In fact, Basilisk leaps down to join her, and the little dragon easily dwarfs the pooch.] That's right, the egg hatched. How's yours doing, kid? [When Basilisk butts Deino's head out of the way and attacks her bowl, Nero doesn't intervene. None of his other pokemon are visible when he turns the gear back towards himself, presumably tucked away in their balls.]

Anyway. I got work to do.

[Click.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Sounds like he's got too much energy he doesn't know what to do with.

No kidding. I've gotta do a lot of training with him, I think. Maybe I should get a second Fighting-type for him to, like, practice with.

Or the egg'll hatch, and then they can keep each other busy.

You think? Yours didn't look very tough. [ Skepticism! ]

[He turns the camera, making a soft clicking noise. The Deino raises her head, obediently wandering over to sniff the plank of plywood he's levelling at her.

She opens her mouth, and with a resounding noise of crunching wood and teeth, snaps the end of the plank right off.]

He'd better think twice before punching that.

Showoff. [ Miyuki looks pretty impressed, though. ] D'you just keep a bunch of boards around for it to chomp on, or what?

Are you kidding me? I'd be spending my entire salary on plywood. [No, he just grabbed that from the (re-)construction/cleanup site. Bad, Nero.] Nah, she likes those industrial rubber chew toys, I just freeze 'em before I them to her. Otherwise I let her chew on Victrix.

Sounds like these little dudes are a handful. [ She glances offscreen again, in the direction of the Deino egg. ] Can't wait 'til mine hatches.

Why'd yours hatch sooner, anyway? You got some secret technique?

What, don't they usually hatch around three weeks? About the same as Vicky.

Yeah, that was basically how long it took Axe-bro to hatch, too. Probably mine'll be hatching soon. [ She's just buttmad because yours hatched first. ]

Cross your fingers. Wouldn't wanna have too much to catch up on.

[ The driest roll of her eyes. ] Dude, even if it took three more weeks, I'd still be ahead of you. I've got like a kabillion more badges than you, aaaaand I'm pretty sure your girlfriend likes me better.

[ She can't resist— ] So there.

[Oh, snap, Nero's face just shuts right the fuck down. Did Miyuki know, or was she just being her bratty self? Either way, his mood is soured. He very, very nearly tells her to fuck off, before he reminds himself that she's twelve and that she really shouldn't be affecting him like this. But damn, Kyrie probably does like Miyuki more than him right now.]

Whatever, kid. Don't sit on your laurels just yet.

[ She had no idea, honestly, but she knows a freeze-out when she sees one. Her own expressions cycle through surprise, confusion, uncertainty, then finally concern, each one as transparent as the last.

After a moment in which she debates whether it's more important to find out what the hell laurels are and why she'd be sitting on them, or what it is that pissed Nero off all of a sudden, she tries for a soothing tone of voice, the way her mother always sounds when Miyuki's upset. ]

Are you okay, bro?

[He's never been good a shielding his emotions, but Miyuki's a kid, and the troubles between him and Kyrie are gonna stay right where they are. He adopts a mocking tone in response to her soothing coo.]

I'm just peachy, momma.

[ Her attempt at gentleness is short lived; his response instantly earns him a scowl. ]

Except the part where you're a jerk, jerk.

You wouldn't like me if I was nice, admit it.

I don't even like you anyway!

Oh wait, you mean you don't wanna go to the beach? Guess I'll have to retract that offer, then.

Wait— no! Nero, don't be a jerk!

[ She brings the 'Gear up close to her face. Look at those sad eyes, Nero. How dare you? ]

But I thought you didn't like me anymore.

[The fakest of fake sad faces everrrr.]

[ Exasperation! ]

I meant I didn't even like you to begin with, moron!

[ ... How is this getting you what you want, Miyuki. ]

07 ☣ video

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