002. [Text/Action for Route 44]

[explosivecombat]

[TEXT]

And a good evening to you, Johto.

Conversations with a few of you have shed some interesting light on opinions of exactly what it is we do here. The mandates we've received from the faceless entities that have brought us here make it very plain that we're supposed to humor them, to collect these 'badges' and essentially wander around for no real reason other than training these creatures and strengthening them - not so much a militaristic society as it is battle culture, if you will. However, others refer to these creatures as 'pets' or 'companions'; while I suppose the act of training these things may lead to bonds being formed, such people seem to have a different view of this world entirely.

I ask, then: from whatever standpoint you hold, be it one geared more toward companionship or more toward advancement - at what point does it become acceptable to you to release these creatures back into the wilderness? Surely there are some that aren't exactly battle-capable, or at least not as capable as others may be, and effort goes into their training; when do you decide that continuing to train them is no longer granting you benefit equal to the effort you're putting in?

I'll grant that "never" may be a perfectly valid answer, should your tendencies lean that way.

[ACTION]

[Well, whatever Kimblee was going on about before, it's clearly not affecting his relations with his own Pokémon any; he's currently standing beneath one of those trees on Route 43, though the white coat he's usually wearing makes him a bit obvious. He's always been a bit curious regarding what these things will do when not given orders, and he's keeping an eye on what appears to be a new member of his team from a distance; judging from the Swinub he's watching from a short distance away, apparently the answer is "generally snuffle about, and occasionally roll around for no real reason."

Of course, he seems to have another new one with him today - he did purchase two eggs from Xanxus, after all, and as a result Kimblee is now the proud owner of what seems to be the smuggest Vulpix on the planet.

...it doesn't help that Kimblee doesn't seem to have put the fox down since he hatched it, instead choosing to carry it around like a somewhat oversized cat. Seriously, Ernst Stavro Blofeld would look at him and tell him he's spoiling the damn thing.

His life, his choices, etc.]

Comments

[hasearthbooks.livejournal.com]

[Militaristic societies can only breed excellent and balanced people like us.]

I wasn't implying that you did, or anything of the sort, for that matter.

And yet this happened a considerably long time ago. Do you believe you have changed much since then?

[explosivecombat]

[Because there's no point in living unless someone is standing an excellent chance of dying.]

In what way? Surely you realize that's a bit of a biased question, in most regards - of course I'm going to assume that I haven't, because of the way change in people works.

[hasearthbooks.livejournal.com]

[Gorthan shakes his head slightly, dismissing Kimblee's question.]

I think you know what I mean. After all, fifteen years is too big a gap to leave in any story, don't you think?

[explosivecombat]

Oh, but by this time there's only an eight-year gap to account for, remember; seven years of war in Ishval, before I became involved.

As the war was coming to a close, however, it became increasingly clear that I had a few irreconcilable differences with my commanding officers. [In that they wanted to remain alive, and Kimblee quite wanted them dead.] As such, I was quickly - ah, how to put it politely? - forcefully removed from service.

[hasearthbooks.livejournal.com]

[Gorthan narrows his eyes.]

You were imprisoned?

[explosivecombat]

They didn't agree with the way I handed in my resignation.

[hasearthbooks.livejournal.com]

[Well, that just reminds him of Trauma more.]

How many dead?

[explosivecombat]

Five. High-ranking officers, all of them.

[hasearthbooks.livejournal.com]

[Aside from his eyes narrowing in thought, Gorthan appears decidedly unperturbed by this talk. We are obviously discussing favorite musicians or something.]

And all that because you disagreed with them on, pray, what grounds?

[explosivecombat]

Whether I should be permitted to utilize certain advantages to my benefit or not.

[hasearthbooks.livejournal.com]

Not quite "what a soldier is expected to do", realize. You did change.

Where I am from, we call your change the development of independent decision processes. Many of my mutants have experienced it, and at one point, it was my turn, too.

[explosivecombat]

[Actually, no, his abilities to make independent decisions kind of up and died after that, and the reason he didn't complain about what he had to do in Ishval was partially because it was his duty, mostly because "war, fuckyeah!"]

Ah, again with the assumptions! You had been doing so well up until then, too - although I really must ask you what you're talking about; if you would?

[hasearthbooks.livejournal.com]

Then you will hear that story from me next.

Right now you must enlighten me on how the bloody murder of your superiors can be reconciled with the idea that, all along, you were fulfilling your duties as a soldier.

[explosivecombat]

Only if you enlighten me on when I ever said that it can.

[hasearthbooks.livejournal.com]

I see. So you were pursuing your own agenda all along...?

[explosivecombat]

That would be why I claimed your mentioning of developing "independent decision processes" was based in assumption, yes.

[hasearthbooks.livejournal.com]

Your country's army must not be all that efficient if you and your real intent managed to slip past the radar for such a long time.

[explosivecombat]

If you're claiming my real intent was the massacre of my superiors, you would be wrong there - bear in mind that my own agenda and that of my country's are not mutually exclusive.

[...yes, he is intentionally being as unhelpful as possible; he does this from time to time.]

[hasearthbooks.livejournal.com]

No, I'm not. Relax.

What had you been hoping to accomplish since the day you began helping with the military operation?

[Gorthan understands! It's a fun pastime.]

[explosivecombat]

I'm afraid I'm not at liberty to say.

[hasearthbooks.livejournal.com]

So you work for somebody.

[explosivecombat]

Very good.

[hasearthbooks.livejournal.com]

And here I deluded myself that someone of your power, intelligence and disposition would want to work independently. But I am also certain you were deriving certain benefits from the relationship with the individual or individuals who hired you - were you not?

[explosivecombat]

Well, there's hardly a point in working for someone if there's no chance of benefit - as I've said, Equivalent Exchange is a principle that I find to be applicable to most, if not all circumstances.

[hasearthbooks.livejournal.com]

So what does it take to earn your respect and obedience, I wonder? Ah, but you don't have to answer - I have heard enough from you for today.

I suppose it is my turn now.