026. [Audio/Action for Route 35, just outside Goldenrod City]

[explosivecombat]

[AUDIO]

Goodness, it's only getting worse out there...

[Audio posts from Kimblee are reasonably rare, unless he's on...ah, "official business"; however, tonight he clearly feels like addressing the network as a whole for once. His voice is tight, though it's remaining controlled; there's a sort of quietness to the feed, as though he's indoors for the time being - god only knows exactly where, though, because judging by the BGM, he could be anywhere in Goldenrod.]

I've seen a few swarms in my time here, but I don't recall them being this bad in quite a while, much less this angry...perhaps this place is finally starting to strike back. I can't imagine the world being terribly pleased with how frequently the "foreigners" find their way here, after all; upset the balance too far in one way or another and the world will take notice, I've found, and if you think that will result in anything but a battlefield in one way or another, you're either idealistic or very, very sheltered.

[There's a clatter of movement in the background, a vague quickening of his breath as he speaks - heading down stairs, maybe?]

I've always enjoyed the notion that this world is built around conflict and the culture bred by the battleground; perhaps it's finally living up to its potential. Time will tell, I'm sure; while I suppose now is when it would be relevant to ask what sort of thing you're fighting for back home, I'll spare you the tedium - after all, the answer to that, when such times are upon us, is always obvious.

[A heavier thud then, and quickly-paced steps on even ground; whatever stairwell he's on, he seems to have seen fit to jump the last few steps, and his words are picking up speed a bit as he continues.

Those that are familiar with the way he is when he speaks will likely recognize overstimulation when they hear it; those who aren't...well, he sounds excited, at any rate. Excitement is good, isn't it?]

But for now, the hour grows late, and there's a battle to be had; perhaps I'd like to hear about some of your battles, myself. Not the reasons behind them - again, those are usually obvious and boring, really. But what victories you've won, if any. What victories you're seeking.

I'd prefer they be true, but you're more than welcome to make something up if you'd like. After all, it's not like I'll know the difference, right?


[ACTION]

[So. It's hideous o'clock at night, it's raining, and things are getting loud just past the northern borders of Goldenrod tonight. And not, like rampaging-Pokémon loud, though that's likely also pretty loud.

More like "shit blowing up" loud.

It seems Kimblee's finally taking the time to properly, uh. Bond. With his murderball of an Electrode. After all, if there's one thing they both can agree upon, it's that destroying things is ridiculously fun if you do it properly. Right now he's enjoying terrorizing the living hell out of the newly-local population of Anorith; this likely isn't going to make them any less mad about the state of the world, just saying.]

Comments

[explosivecombat]

Is that so - care to elaborate any?

[papshooshing]

Talking about how this world is supposed to be bred around conflict. Think about that for a second. Usually that puts a pretty "negative" imagery- note that I say that while making those shitty little quotation marks ( which is another word in the human tongue that makes me cringe so fiercely I fear my terrifying features may get stuck ).

And yet this place is pretty much anything but what you would expect from people who fight each other all of the damn time. It's so happy and irritatingly bright. They'd rather link arms and skip down the yellow brick road with birds twittering in the sky and all of their fuzzy beasts singing along than rip each others' faces off. It's just not realistic.

Violence usually begets violence, doesn't it?

[explosivecombat]

You aren't the only one to find that unnerving; really, I find the natives of this world to be more disturbing than anything else here - some of them are fine, but a fair amount of them behave as though they've been lobotomized.

There are a few here that are willing to cause problems, however; we've all seen them in action, after all, though they've been quiet for the last while.

[papshooshing]

Maybe they have been lobotomized.

If you're referring to Team Rocket, please. That ambition of theirs? Taking over the world through stealing other peoples' beasts? Please call me when they have a reality check and crawl out of their pupas.

I'm not impressed.

[explosivecombat]

[That's amused him, really; well done, you.]

Well, I said they cause problems; I didn't say they were particularly adept at it. I can't say I'm impressed either, though I do give them some credit for trying.

[papshooshing]

Try harder.

[explosivecombat]

I'm sorry?

[papshooshing]

I'm basically saying if that's their version of trying, then maybe they can make a grub piss itself - that's not hard for the record. Thus they need to work at it.

In the near two years I have been present, I think the most annoying event what the train hijacking and the most destructive was around the time that the virus was going around. Even then I kind of want to smash their craniums together for blowing up stores and the like. Thank you, geniuses for that by the way - if they're even listening to this conversation. Let's just cause mass destruction on buildings that enable trainers to get stronger and thus make their Pokémon all that more desirable. That's some assbackwards thinking if you ask me.

[explosivecombat]

It could be worse, you know; I'm sure most would argue that if too much peace and a mildly annoying group of troublemakers are all we have to complain about, then we're actually quite well-off.

[papshooshing]

But not you.

[explosivecombat]

Well, to be blunt, it's a little dull.

[papshooshing]

No wonder you're getting a thrill from this.

[explosivecombat]

What can I say? I've been a bit restless lately, that's all.

Nothing really compares to the battleground, but once in a while this place comes close.

[usedshooshpap]

You just barely got back...

[explosivecombat]

Let's say that not much time passed for me while I was back home; the effect was more or less like simply waking up six weeks later.

[usedshooshpap]

What do you even do here on a regular basis, Kimblee?

[explosivecombat]

I'm surprisingly boring most of the time, actually. Why?

[usedshooshpap]

Curiosity, I guess. I've known you for getting on two fucking years.

[explosivecombat]

Two years in November, if I remember correctly.

For what it's worth, it's been an interesting experience.

[usedshooshpap]

You're one of the few humans that actually has a lick of common sense. At least talking to you has renewed what little faith I had in humanity not being completely useless.

[explosivecombat]

Humanity has a great amount of potential, I think; the problem is that most tend to squander it. I still wouldn't say that I hate humanity, despite finding so many of its members utterly useless; my thoughts are usually somewhere between disappointment and contempt.

[usedshooshpap]

I never said I hated humans or their useless morals... Disappointment and contempt, though? Yeah. I think that fits better.

[explosivecombat]

Well, that was more for my benefit than yours, I'll admit; most people seem to be under the impression that I'm flat-out misanthropic.

Not that I can fault them for coming to that conclusion, given several of the things I've done.

[usedshooshpap]

Like what... Blow shit up and all that war time stuff?

[explosivecombat]

Something like that.

It's not so much that I participated in war as it was the context of the wars themselves.