diamondo | THIRD RIDE ✦ TEXT / ACTION [VIOLET CITY]

[ 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.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[WHOA, NELLY. Kosugi might've been the only one who was at danger there, but when the Scrafty comes flying in their direction, both the Pokemon as well as his trainer snap into offensive positions, the latter doing so mostly out of instinct than anything else. That said, of the two of them, Yusuke is the first to relax once Mondo zaps Ryder back into her ball; he was definitely more than a little startled when Ryder barreled over like that, especially when he'd been so distracted by what Mondo was doing before, but after surviving situations more life-threatening than this, it takes more than a pissed off Pants Monster to leave him shaken. Hell, he doesn't even seem particularly bent out of shape about Kosugi nearly being attacked, which... probably wouldn't be the case if it hadn't been his idea to sit in on Mondo's training session in the first place. As it is, he's assuming it was the intrusion that set Ryder off, which he can't really hold against her: these Pokemon things might not be similar to the sort of animals he's used to, like dogs, but they seem to have the same sort of instincts, and he knows he wouldn't get mad at a dog if it attacked someone who was just kinda hangin' around uninvited.

So uh, yeah. NO NEED TO LOOK SO EMBARRASSED, MONDO, HE AIN'T MAD. He indicates as much with a shrug, and says:]

Hey, 's all right. It was probably my fault. I saw what you were doin' over here and came over to watch, so I wouldn't be surprised if she got pissed off 'cause of that.

Besides, we're fine. Right, Kosugi?

[Yusuke reaches over and places a firm hand on the Hitmonlee's arm. Kosugi, still in offense mode, tenses a little at the touch at first, but then eases up, eventually straightening his posture and folding his arms over his chest. He seems a little less ready to judo-flip someone than he did before, but he's still rather... severe-looking, all the same. Almost like a disapproving sensei. SOME FIGHTING-TYPES JUST HAVE NO FINESSE OR DISCIPLINE AT ALL. HARRUMPH.]

[That's what you get when you mix Dark- and Fighting-types!!

Mondo tips his head a bit as he considers that, finally nodding.]

Yeah, I guess that could be it. Still, she's a real terror. Sorry 'bout that. You'd think she'd actually fucking listen - I mean, she's my starter and everything!

[Ugh, maybe Parker was right. Maybe all the Rocket starters are evil...]

What kinda Pokémon is that? I've never seen one before. Fighting-type, right?

[It looks like it would make a great sparring partner!]

Right. He's a Hitmonlee. Stupid name, but he's pretty tough.

[... declares Yusuke, with no small amount of pride. This comment even seems to puff the perpetually Serious Business Kosugi up a little, though the Pokemon is clearly trying to maintain some semblance of ~dignity, here. Pride is for the weak, etc. etc.]

Wouldn't expect anything different from a Fighting-type, though. What about your starter? I'm guessin' she's a Fighting-type, too?

[He actually thinks he's seen her species before, but alas, he can't quite put a finger on where just yet. HIS MEMORY, A SIEVE.]

I'll have to look into getting something like that! He looks like he'd be a great sparring partner!

[Mondo nods at the question about his own starter, then quickly adds on to it.]

Yeah, she's also a Dark-type. She's a Scrafty; I haven't seen much of her kind around here, but if she's any indication, they're pretty tough!

He is. Me and him were just on our way out to have a round, actually.

['sup, Pokemon-sparring dude! Meet another Pokemon-sparring dude. Of course, the fact that Mondo comments on Kosugi looking like a decent sparring partner in the first place gets Yusuke's attention right away; he's not particularly surprised that they have the sparring thing in common, since Mondo looks rather like the type to get into scraps himself, but it does get him considering asking Mondo if he'd be up for a quick knuckle-buster with someone who isn't a Pants Monster. Because obviously, the thing to do when you first meet somebody is seriously contemplate asking them if they wanna try punching you in the face. A+ social skills, Yusuke.

Alas, before he can properly put those social skills on display, the conversation moves on, and Yusuke's momentarily distracted by the "aha!" moment that follows Mondo's answer regarding his Pokemon partner. A Dark/Fighting type, huh? Hmmm.]

Scrafty... is that related to Scraggy, by any chance? 'cause uh, I bought this Scraggy egg off of some guy a while ago, and I was kinda thinking that maybe I'd seen something like your Pokemon before. Like in the 'dex thing, or somethin'.

[Yusuke's pretty sure he already knows the answer to this question, but well... whatever. Might as well ask it anyway, just for the sake of making conversation.]

Yeah, Scrafty's the evolved form of Scraggy! Hopefully yours'll turn out better than mine!

[He laughs, clearly not too bothered by his pantslizard being a complete and utter terror.]

THIRD RIDE ✦ TEXT / ACTION [VIOLET CITY]

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