usedlaserbeam | 011 | Olivine City

Entry tags:

011 | Olivine City | Video / Action;

[Unlike Yagyuu's last gym challenge, which involved quite a bit of advance scouting, careful strategizing, and deliberate manipulation of his roster's strengths and weaknesses (and okay, let's be honest, a rather impromptu decision to throw a lot of that out the window and just mercilessly crush his opponent's hopes and dreams to dust), his current encounter at the Olivine Gym is much more...subdued — almost to the point of being pleasant. As always, he is as polite as can be, but this time there's almost a certain legitimacy to it. Jasmine may be a gym leader, but she's a completely different breed than Whitney, and it shows in how he reacts.]

Oh! Are...are you here for the Mineral Badge?

If you're amenable to it, I'd like the opportunity to challenge you, yes.

Um, please allow me to introduce myself, then. I'm Jasmine, the Olivine Gym leader. I use Steel-type Pokemon...have you heard of the Steel type? They're very hard, cold, sharp, and really strong!

I'm familiar with a few of them. That's why they call you the Steel-Clad Defense Girl, isn't it?

Er...yes! That's right.

I've faced an Iron Wall of Defense before, but I haven't yet had the pleasure of trading blows with steel. I'm looking forward to our match, Jasmine-san.

I—I am, too! Okay...let's begin!

[And thus begins a battle that is decidedly different in character from Yagyuu's previous challenge in Goldenrod. This time, there are no malicious undertones, no tension hanging in the air; it's as straightforward as can be, as Jasmine sends out her roster one by one and Yagyuu answers with Vampa. And for those who know Yagyuu, and have learned to read between his subtle lines, it might become clear that this is an apology of sorts to his Rapidash — the opportunity to finally claim victory where he'd previously been charged with pursuing defeat.

For those who really know Yagyuu, they might almost find a hint of symbolism in that.

Jasmine's Pokemon are strong, but ultimately she's just outleveled and at a type disadvantage against Vampa's Fire Blast and Flare Blitz. And even this most blasé member of Yagyuu's roster is willing to indulge a proud snort and a toss of his mane when the Steelix finally falls and the match ends in his standalone victory.]

I can see you're a skilled trainer. Well done, and...er, in accordance with League rules, I confer upon you this Badge.

I'd say that makes two of us, Jasmine-san. It was an excellent match.

You're...really a gentleman, aren't you? Um...I don't know how to say this, but...good luck.

~

[It's a cold day for the beach, but there wouldn't be much point in going all the way to a port city for a vacation and not making it down to the water's edge at least once, so today Yagyuu has simply bundled up and headed down for a stroll, intent on seeing the sights of the Olivine shoreline at least once. And he's warding off the cold rather admirably, really, with a warm scarf wrapped loosely around his neck and his hands in the pockets of his nice, sturdy peacoat. His breath is making faint clouds in the chill air as he walks at a leisurely pace, leaving footprints behind him in the sand as he meanders in the direction of the lighthouse, letting the cold breeze from the ocean play through the ends of his hair and wash over his exposed skin.

(It also happens that there is a Dratini following along after him rather conspicuously, down in the shallows of the waves, but one can hardly blame her for being conspicuous when she is, in fact, a six-foot bright blue baby noodle dragon.)

He walks a little while longer, then pauses and looks out at the ocean — which prompts the Dratini to duck beneath the waves, clearly engaged in her game of trying to tail him while staying out of his view. Spoilers: it doesn't work very well, but Yagyuu's content to let her have her fun, anyway.]

That's two of eight, then. [A pause, and then, with a touch more amusement—] A Steel-Clad Defense Girl...I wonder what Jackal-kun would think of that.

[And after musing on that a moment, he continues on his way with a faint smile, wandering along to enjoy the sights of Olivine.]

[OOC: Badge is mod-approved!]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

She's a lot more reasonable than Whitney, isn't she? Congrats, Yagyuu-kun.

They're both engaging in their ways, Kujikawa-san. Though it is nice to see a gym battle that doesn't involve a Miltank for a change.

Whitney's about as engaging as a rock.

If rocks were brats.

[ ... no love lost for that one. ]

I wasn't aware you disliked her so much.

[This is possibly a flagrant lie.]

[ wry. ] Surprise?

I never did ask what she did to deserve your ire, you know.

Some people just aren't meant to get along.

[ especially when they misunderstand the reason you're there in the first place and proceed to call themselves cuter and insult your team goes unsaid. ]

There seem to be an unusually high number of them, where it concerns her. She must have a knack for conflict.

And she's misusing her tears!

Misusing them?

There's no way people will fall for that if you do it for every match!

You wouldn't happen to be speaking from experience, would you, Kujikawa-san?

Me? [ she actually looks hurt. ] No way!

[Looking hurt and being hurt are two different things.]

You just seem to be unusually knowledgeable on the subject, that's all.

I do work in show business, you know... you see that stuff a lot.

Then you are speaking from experience, albeit an observational variety.

Mm, yeah, I guess I am.

[ not like I have made my entire team feel like monsters deliberately. Really. ]

It's a method my sister is occasionally fond of, too. Though I think she's like you in that she sees it more in her acquaintances than she is inclined to employ it herself.

... Younger?

[ there's a gleam of interest there; she hadn't known he had a sister, and Rise always likes hearing about siblings. Life's not as fun for an only child. ]

[She's lucky he's decidedly relaxed at the moment, still coming down off the high of a victory, and taking in the scenic, isolated surroundings of the Olivine beach. It all adds up to mean he's in something of a forthcoming mood.]

By two years.

Aww, lucky! [ not that he probably thinks so, but it's sincere enough on her end. ] Doubly, I guess, if she sees it more than she uses it.

She's simply smart enough to realize it's not beneficial to use a tactic like that against someone who knows exactly what she's doing and refuses to fall for it, that's all.

The ultimate opponent... [ she says, a little admiringly, though it's mostly amusement. ]

It's a brother's prerogative. Particularly an older brother's.

And it doesn't hurt that it comes in handy against Whitney.

[ and most idols, but the chances of Yagyuu keeping company with idols doesn't seem too high. ]

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