usedlaserbeam | 007 | Outskirts of Goldenrod City

[It's late afternoon on the outskirts of Goldenrod City, where Yagyuu has evidently been out training his team; it's a somewhat unusual sight to see them all out of their Pokeballs at once, but at the moment the full roster has been released to roam around the open expanse of field chosen for today's practice grounds.

Or at least, most of the full roster is: there's an Absol staked out relatively near his trainer, seemingly on high alert as he surveys the other Pokemon in his midst. Farther back from the camera, a Rapidash is roaming with a stately air as a very small Vulpix trots along beside him, bounding four steps for every one of his own. And even Yagyuu's Ditto seems to be present— if the occasional glimpse of purple molecular goo seeping over the edges of the camera lens is any indication.

Yagyuu himself is visible, too; he's crouching down to administer his Eevee's usual meticulous grooming— an activity she clearly seems to enjoy, given the way her tail is flicking with pleasure at the attention— and speaking quietly to her while he's at it.]

Now that Vampa's evolved, that only leaves you to go, doesn't it?

[And she coos, pushing her head against his hand insistently.]

You're certainly growing strong enough for it. And the necessary stones aren't particularly difficult to come by, either; a quick trip to the department store will easily take care of that. So it's just a matter of deciding which type suits you best, isn't it?

[He glances over, surveying his team as they roam and remarking almost absently:]

An electric type, perhaps, might—

[But he never gets the chance to finish the sentence, as the Eevee lets out one last emphatic trill before taking one step back and beginning to glow with bright, almost blinding light—

— and when it clears, there's an Espeon in her place, just as perfectly well-groomed and somehow managing to look twice as haughty for it.

Yagyuu, for his part, just stares for a few seconds before shaking his head in what is probably half amusement and half disbelief.]

...Ah.

[And he keeps staring, up until a Pidgeot comes flapping down from overhead a few minutes later, drawing his attention up and away from the Espeon and toward this latest arrival.]

Irene, another excellent job, but I see we'll have to work at perfecting your aim—

[And on that fairly cryptic note, purple goo oozes completely over the lens, and the Gear switches off.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I'm tempted to repeat myself.

But for the sake of argument, let's say that I do.

On the other hand, you don't strike me as someone particularly impractical. Kind of like Niou, in that regard.

Some might argue that liking Niou is both impractical and a challenge.

Though I'm curious to know what makes you think of him that way.

[he passes over the second statement for now, pondering over the first.]

Some might. Would you take stock in their arguments?

[For now. Yagyuu will make certain they come back to it before this conversation is over, that's for sure.]

They are difficult to deny.

Not usually worth denying, no. I'd go as far as to assume that the ones who know him know better.

It sounds as though you're one of the ones who knows better.

I wouldn't go so far. But I am acquainted with someone who does know better.

[Oh, look, it's the return of momentarily serious Yagyuu.]

You might not go so far, but I would.

[he tilts his head.]

A very conservative choice of words.

It'd be impractical to waste them, wouldn't it?

You do know better, Fuji-kun.

So do you. Scarcity of words makes the tense that much more telling.

I have good reason to know better. It's not quite the same in your situation.

Though it doesn't make him any less fascinating.

Fascinating, is it?

Are you on-guard?

It's a conversation, not a fencing match.

You might like challenges. I thought I might provide.

You're a challenging person through and through. All right, try me.

Mm, are you the other one who graduated from 'the school of seven bells'?

[On guard, indeed; there's a knowing flicker of his eyes and an almost imperceptible hint of tension that results from that remark, but as usual, his self-control wins the day again.]

Is that the sort of thing you find fascinating?

[the tension isn't self-evident to Fuji, but the subtle shift in demeanor is. he knows that something has changed, but can't pinpoint what. therefore, he tilts his head.]

Among other things. Questions that answer questions are also interesting.