THIRD RIDE ✦ TEXT / ACTION [VIOLET CITY]

[diamondo]

[ TEXT ]

[A strange text post goes out to the network today. It appears to be a list of some kind.]

▶ get a motorcycle
▶ mod the fuck out of it
▶ fuck up ryder's shit
▶ find a fucking gym
▶ train
▶ train
▶ train
▶ fucking train
▶ get stronger (physically/emotionally/mentally??)
▶ find a sauna!!!!!
▶ actually get a date
▶ somehow
▶ god this is gonna fucking suck
▶ see every city in johto
▶ fuck that's a lofty goal isn't it
▶ see every major city in johto
▶ that's better
▶ get all the badges
▶ (it's a matter of fucking pride)
▶ round out pkmn roster (no more dark types!!!)
▶ um
▶ fuck
▶ i'm forgetting something aren't i
▶ shit

[Five minutes after that's accidentally posted to the network, a proper text follows.]

oh shit ignore that last post, that wasn't supposed to go public
...actually, tell me about the things you want to do here
i need more shit on my to do list
are there any awesome places to see or anything like that?

[ ACTION - VIOLET CITY ]

[It's not surprising that Mondo's out training on the outskirts of the city. What is surprising is that he isn't fighting his Pokémon today. He's ditched the usual coat today and if one looks closely, they can see a massive bruise over his shoulders and leading down toward his back. That might be from fighting his Pokémon. Maybe. But that's not what he's doing today - today he's got his Pokémon out, situated in teams of two facing off against each other.]

Alright, we're gonna practice double battling today. Ryder! Quit trying to punch Pierce, he's your partner!

[The Scrafty shoots him a dirty look, but she knocks it off. At least until Mondo's back is turned, then she socks the Lucario in the gut and knocks him over.]

Lex, Tory! If I see the two of you biting at each other again I swear I'm gonna stick you in the fucking PC and never let you see the light of day again! You got that?

[The Sharpedo and Deino pull faces once his back is turned, but at least they seem to be listening.]

Alright, on my mark... go!

[...This can only end well.]

Comments

[text]

[diamondo]

[...Well dammit.]

i don't think you're stupid. i just didn't want to worry you alright?
yeah i'd like to beat the shit outta ryder. i don't think it'll happen though.
she's really fucking tough and it doesn't matter how strong i'll get, she'll always have the advantage.
but it's a goal i'd like to keep on there 'cause giving up's not something i do.
it doesn't mean i'm gonna pull the same shit and nearly get maimed by her.
i promise. you have my word as a man.

[text]

[ardent]

We really need to work on your self-control.

[text]

[diamondo]

hey my self control is fucking fine!!
i just said i'm not gonna fight her!! if i had no self control i'd be out fighting her right now!!!

[text]

[ardent]

You're not proving your point very well, even in writing.

[text]

[diamondo]

the fuck do you mean???

[text]

[ardent]

...are you serious?

[text]

[diamondo]

why the fuck wouldn't i be??

[text]

[ardent]

Because it's obvious??

[text]

[diamondo]

if it was obvious i wouldn't be asking??????????????

[Could he be even more passive aggressive if he tried???]

[text]

[ardent]

Try to gauge how mad you are right now, and then see if you still don't get what I'm talking about!

[text]

[diamondo]

are you trying to tell me i'm not allowed to get fucking angry??? that that shit's losing control????

[text]

[ardent]

No, that isn't what I'm saying at all! You're allowed to get angry; everyone does!

[WHAT THE GENTLY CARESS.]

[text]

[diamondo]

oh.

[......welp.]

then what the fuck are you trying to say????

[Now you've just lost him.]

[text]

[ardent]

That you get really angry over inconsequential things.

...would it be easier to talk about this in person?

[text]

[diamondo]

i do not!!

[Well now he's just really huffy. Good job.

That question gets him to pause for so long it almost seems like he's not going to answer it. Then, finally he fires off another text.]

yeah that would be good.

[He's a little worried about losing control like last time and possibly hurting Ishimaru, but surely that won't happen again? It freaked him out badly enough last time, so it... it can't happen again, right? He has more control that that, doesn't he?

Well, he's going to find out.]

[text]

[ardent]

Where are you? I'm not busy now; I can come to you.

[text]

[diamondo]

just south of violet; i was trying to teach my pokemon how to double battle
that went about as well as can be expected
ryder's a little shit
but anyway i'll wait for you here okay?

[text → action]

[ardent]

Maybe we could work on that together; it sounds like a good skill to have, anyway.

But all right. Give me fifteen minutes.

[And he'll certainly be there in fifteen - punctual as always, really.]

[action]

[diamondo]

[Mondo is seated against a tree when Ishimaru shows up, and he's quick to get up to greet his brother.]

Hey. Sorry for snapping at you. I guess you're right, I do tend to lose my temper pretty easily.

[To... understate it a bit...]

[ardent]

[...just a little, kyoudai.

Either way, Ishimaru doesn't seem...too worked up about it, though he's not exactly happy either; the usual severity is present in his expression, and he stops a short distance away from Mondo.]

It's fine! It's just something that needs to be worked on, that's all!

[diamondo]

Yeah, I guess you're right. I wouldn't even know where to start working on it though. I mean, I've always been like this. I doubt it'll be fucking easy to change.

[ardent]

It's the complete loss of control that I'm most concerned about. That blacking out that you mentioned.

[...for...many, many obvious reasons.]

[diamondo]

[Mondo freezes at that and for a brief moment his expression is bordering on panic. This is the last thing he wants to talk about and the last thing he knows how to address.]

Y-Yeah. I'd love to figure out how to control that, but I don't even know where to start, y'know?

[ardent]

[Ishimaru's eyes widen a bit at that; it's obvious that he's said something that he shouldn't have, though he can't place the why or the how and he just kind of twitches for a moment while he tries to collect himself.]

I...I understand - it's not going to be something easy to work through...

[oh god what now]

[diamondo]

Do you... do you even have any idea how to help with that?

[Oh whoops, it looks like he's upsetting Ishimaru with this, oh dear.]