usedlaserbeam | 009 | Goldenrod City

Entry tags:

009 | Goldenrod City | Video / Action;

[This afternoon, on a Very Special Broadcast™ courtesy of Yagyuu's PokeGear, the Gear network is treated to the sight of the Goldenrod Gym's interior, where Yagyuu and Whitney appear to somewhere in the midst of the preliminary discussion that traditionally precedes a gym challenge — except that, given the few small snippets of dialogue that manage to filter their way over to the microphone, this particular conversation isn't quite as traditional as most: ]

Oh, that jersey! Hey, you live here in Goldenrod, don't you?

Yes, that's right. My teammates and I have a house here.

Right, I remember seeing those jerseys around the city! [A giggle.] Some of your friends have come to challenge me before.

Ah, have they really? I hope you found them worthy opponents.

Well, one of them was! The one with the seaweed hair. [Another giggle.] He put up a much better fight than the one I beat a few months ago.

[And what follows that remark is a sharp, dangerous silence as the words sink in, the implications are spun out, and Yagyuu gradually puts two and two together—the figure of a few months, the team members he knows haven't challenged the gym, the ones remaining who it might've been—and finds that no, he really doesn't like the way they're adding up.

There's a oddly different tone in his voice when he speaks again, some underlying quality that's almost impossible to place—unless, of course, you happen to be familiar enough with Yagyuu to know what usually follows his words when they come in a tone like that.]

In that case, I hope you'll find me a worthwhile challenge. Shall we begin?

Okay, but I'm warning you—I'm good!

[And thus, the gym battle unfolds:

The first match-up is between Yagyuu's Absol, Phantom, and Whitney's Girafarig. And it's apparent from the start that Yagyuu has done his homework; he's standing cool and unflinching on the sidelines as Phantom proceeds to lay waste to his opponent, utilizing plenty of Dark-type moves to gun straight for the Girafarig's weak points.

When the Girafarig falls, Whitney makes a face and sends out her Clefable; though Phantom is far from incapacitated after his previous battle, Yagyuu still recalls him, and this time sends out Lady the Espeon. She's haughty as ever as she makes her way into the ring, and it quickly becomes clear that she's got the moves and the power to back up her arrogance: though this battle drags out a little longer, it still ends with Whitney's Clefable knocked out and Lady preening in her victory as the dust settles.]

H-Hey, what kind of person are you? It's really mean to pick on girls, you know!

Pitiful! This is what winning and losing is all about!

Well, I'm not gonna lose! Go, Miltank!

[And thus, for the final battle, out comes Whitney's fabled Miltank, primed and ready with Rollout waiting in its repertoire. But oddly, this is where Yagyuu's preparation seems to falter; he sends out his Rapidash, Vampa, and the battle abruptly takes a turn for the worse—Rollout proves super effective, and despite Vampa's better efforts, he's eventually brought down by it.

As Whitney cheers in triumph, Yagyuu's lips tighten slightly, and he next sends out his Pidgeot, Irene—who, thanks to an equal disadvantage, soon meets the same fate. Somewhere in the stands, an audience member remarks: ]

That Rollout is something else. If this keeps up, she's going to win...

[But then, an answer from a confident, unwavering voice: ]

No...Yagyuu still hasn't used "That" yet.

[Down on the field, Yagyuu silently recalls his Pidgeot and regards Whitney's renewed enthusiasm with a cool, disdainful smile—]

It's dangerous to celebrate before the match is decided, Whitney-san.

[—and then throws out his final challenger: a red, gangly, somewhat awkward-looking Octillery who looks a little perplexed at the prospect of even being called on to participate in a battle at all.]

Now, playtime is over! Adieu!

[He shouts the word with practiced ease, his arms coming up into a stance that anyone who has faced him on a tennis court would instantly recognize as the Laserbeam—one arm up over his head, the other outstretched, a deadly gleam in his eye—and as if on command, the Octillery responds, unleashing a devastating Hyper Beam that knocks the Miltank cold.

For a few moments, all is stunned and silent—and then the familiar sound of Whitney's crying makes its way through the air.]

[Some time later, in the aftermath, there is a constantly-shifting parade of fur, hooves, and feathers obscuring the camera of the Gear, but the soft patter of rain suggests that the scene has moved somewhere outdoors, and Yagyuu's voice is unmistakable.]

The two of you did well. An intentional defeat to achieve the most desirable circumstances for victory...it's an equally valuable contribution. I could hardly ask for more.

[There is a pause, and the familiar sound of a pair of Pokemon being recalled to their balls. And then, shortly thereafter, Yagyuu's supremely satisfied voice comes through again.]

So this is the Plain Badge.

[OOC: Mod-approved badge get! Pink text is, predictably, Whitney, and blue is Yukimura, used here with permission! o/]

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Which makes you Ms. Kyle, I presume.

[Or at the very least, the one with the penchant for cats. But while the warmth stays in his tone for his next words, a touch of the humor fades.]

You didn't come to watch.

[ Niou chuckles and Sudoku draws back enough to frame her face in the shot, blinking innocently. At Yagyuu's observation, though, she looks up warily in the direction of Niou's sudden hush. ]

... Yeah, me and the Illustrious Goldenrod Gym Leader don't exactly get on.

[And that makes him pause, which is perhaps not the most prudent course of action when standing outside in the drizzling rain, but at the moment, the weather is the last thing on his mind.]

After today, I imagine she and I won't, either.

[ When Sudoku puts her head back down on the bed, it's with her eyes still fixed on her offscreen trainer, and her ears laid gently down in displeasure. ]

Yeah, I'd hate your guts, too, if you humiliated me like that.

[ It's a deliberate sort of phrasing, placing himself in Whitney's shoes, and an interesting choice of words — 'humiliated me' instead of 'beat me,' or even 'kicked my ass.' He's analyzed the whole sentence before it's halfway out of his mouth, and he's sure Yagyuu's doing the same.

At least Yanagi can't see this conversation. ]

[And trust Niou to instantly discern exactly what his motivations had truly been in that crucial moment—intentionally drawing out the match, sending out Pokemon at a deliberate type disadvantage, letting Whitney think she stood a chance at making a comeback before crushing her mercilessly in reply...

Humiliating her hadn't been his intention when he'd first walked in. That strategy only came to the forefront once he'd heard what she'd said.]

You'd have good reason to.

[And it's his turn, then, to go quiet and deliberate.]

It was you?

[ The mattress beside Sudoku dips slightly as Niou sits down; half his leg and one hand are in view. He pets the big cat's head consolingly. ]

Yeah. Back in May. [ His tone is flat. ]

[He lowers the Gear slightly, angling his head and the umbrella back for a glance at the skies. This isn't the best setting for a conversation like this, and he's abruptly faced with the dilemma of whether he wants to try to make it back to the house through the rain, or if it'd be more prudent to duck into shelter somewhere and see if it lets up with a little time.]

What happened?

[He keeps it vague, letting Niou interpret it how he will.]

Fuckin' Miltank.

[ The answer is prompt and more than a little bitter, strangely enough. A loss is something to be accepted and overcome, and ordinarily, Niou would have done both by now — he just can't quite shake the fact that his loss was broadcast to all of Johto. ]

It's her signature move. All the more reason to break it.

[Not that it really helps any, observing that. He'd done his weeks of research on the gym leader precisely to ensure against any potential for defeat, largely because he knows he'd be equally bitter—perhaps even moreso—if he'd been the one to suffer it.]

[ And the observation isn't particularly appreciated. ]

Yeah, well, congratulations.

[ It's biting, just short of vulgarity, and Sudoku pins her ears tighter to her head beneath his now-tense hand. ]

[Perhaps home isn't the wisest of places to go at the moment, after all. Diversion to shelter it is.]

...Why haven't you asked for a rematch since then? I know your team is stronger than mine.

[It's gentle, tentative—the furthest thing from an accusation, no matter how easily it could otherwise sound like one.]

[ Niou recognizes Yagyuu's tone, and in retrospect, his own, which was probably totally uncalled for. There's a resigned sort of sigh in his voice. ]

Just... really don't like her.

[ It's the yips, plain and simple. Logically, Niou knows he can kick her ass by now, but he's so reluctant to even set foot in that gym again that he hasn't even tried. ]

[His fingers tighten instinctively around the handle of the umbrella, the knuckles going faintly white, and for a single fleeting moment he catches himself contemplating going back and destroying her all over again.

But since he can't...]

I'll be there this time.

[ There's a pause, contemplative and affected, before Niou shifts, slowly laying his face down atop Sudoku's head. Her ears prick curiously. Only half his face is visible, but it's close to a smile. ]

Offerin' moral support? You're sweet.

[He tips his head slightly, regarding Niou with a thoughtful look as he tries to gauge if his run-in with Whitney is the only thing contributing to his partner's mood.]

Did you think I wouldn't?

Not that. I just think it's cute, you bein' all encouragin' and tryin' to coax me into tramplin' the bitch.

[ He doesn't seem to be as bothered now; he looks relaxed and almost affectionate. ]

[Mm, that's something. And he settles a little in unconscious response.]

You can trample her all you want; she cries after every match anyway. How would anyone know the difference between warranted tears and crocodile ones?

Too true. It's like the girl who cried wolf.

[ He glances away, in the direction of the window, then looks back at the 'Gear. ]

You comin' home, or you need me to come get you?

It's still raining. There's no sense in both of us getting wet.

[He remarks, even as he smoothly shifts course to once again head in the direction of the Tennis Haus.]

What've you been up to while I was out?

Stayin' dry. Which is boring, by the way.

[ He draws back from the camera and out of sight, leaving Sudoku to stretch out and place a paw against the 'Gear. ]

Boring but sensible. Which, I suppose, would beg the rather important question—are you feeling particularly sensible today, Niou-kun?

D'you know I taught Sugar how to turn into a HAZMAT suit?

[ It sounds like a complete departure in topic, but Yagyuu should know better. ]

The rain isn't that bad yet.

[But there's no denying that one got a slight smile out of him.]

Is it comfortable, wearing a full-body Ditto?

Surprisingly. I think I'll stick with an umbrella, though. —Or maybe not.

[ The 'Gear is picked up haphazardly, then the feed ends without warning. Yeah, he'll be along soon — umbrella-less, in a t-shirt and jeans, laughing and leaping over puddles. ]

[It really isn't that great of a distance from the Haus to the Goldenrod Gym; he's just been walking slow and choosing meandering paths to draw the distance out a little longer as he privately basked in his victory. So it doesn't take long to spot Niou—not that it's ever particularly difficult to spot Niou, unless he's trying not to be seen—and while he does maintain a comfortable distance at first to protect himself from any splashing from the puddles, there's no missing the warm smile on his face at the sight.]

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