o18 | video // action for Violet City // 10/5 Grudge day!

[bertall]

<sub>[The video starts with a shot of the inside of a Gible's mouth, the sound of teeth gnawing on plastic being the only audible thing at first. Then she spits it out and through the drool coating the lens, the same Gible sticks her face into view with a curious little growl. Why isn't this thing 'dead' yet? She chewed on it a bunch already!

In the background, a dull thunk of something hitting brick can be heard, followed by someone... Yelling?]</sub>

--that's for yelling at Bong Water earlier!

<sub>[Yep, that's someone yelling. That's definitely someone yelling, and the Gible makes another sound and pushes the Pokegear over in an attempt to 'kill' it again, but this time Bertolt comes into view and he's...

He's... kicking the side of a Starmiebucks.

Bertolt, no.]</sub>

And this-- _[WHUMP.] -- is for getting my name wrong! Eighteen times! My name isn't Berllol or Bertoryu! It's Bertolt! It's not that difficult! I've even spelled it and you guys still mess it up!

_{[The Gible, ever oblivious to the antics of her trainer, decides that since pushing and biting wasn't effective, that maybe picking it up and throwing it will work better. One, two, three--]}

My last name isn't hard to spell either! It's not Fubar, it's Hoover!

<sub>[With a pleased half squeak-half roar, the Gible throws the 'gear with as much strength as she can muster. GO LONG, UNIVERSE!



Only it doesn't go very far. Everything spins for a moment, then it hits the ground, bounces once, and ends up face-down in the grass. After a minute or so, the video ends but not before picking up on another Gible-squeak and the whump from another good kick delivered to Starmiebucks' wall.

...He'll get back to you later.]</sub>

Comments

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[lyingheart]

[ Annie turns the corner with Lute trotting at her side, pleased with their day out training, Arlert clinging to his back and using her wings to help her keep balance as they go. People yelling isn't unusual, it's how most challenges are issued, but the voice catches her attention. Glancing over with her brow furrowing just a touch, she doesn't see anyone straight away. She signals to Lute and moves around the building only to come across... ]

... Bertolt?

[ Kicking a wall.

Didn't they get past that already.

Bertolt, you don't have to kick walls anymore!!!

This wasn't how she expected to meet up with him here, but now that she has, at least it's symbolically appropriate. ]

action

[bertall]

<sub>[Coral pounces on the 'gear again and "viciously" tears into it - really only succeeding at getting one of her teeth stuck in the side for a moment - and gives a garbled chirp when she sees Annie. NEW PHONE WHO DIS-- Okay, but really, Bertolt is probably going to have to get a new Pokegear at this rate.

Bertolt gives the building another good kick and looks up as he steadies himself, almost going in for another kick--

And then it all clicks.]</sub>

Annie?

_{[WELL THIS ISN'T... awkward at all.]}

[lyingheart]

[ Lute makes a low call in greeting to Coral, while Arlert lifts her wings and hoots her hello. Pokemon! Friend of a friend, since clearly if Annie is saying the tall human's name, they are friends! Friends who might... share food.

For her part, Annie stares at Bertolt with a blank expression that slowly morphs into minor disbelief. She breathes out in a sigh, brow furrowing just enough to pull her eyebrows closer together. ]

Yeah. Did I interrupt something?

[ Attacking walls hasn't proven to be the best idea, Bertolt. Starting it up here won't be any more successful. ]

[bertall]

_{[For her part, Coral at least spits the 'gear out with a none-too-flattering 'blech' into her little hands, waddles over, and promptly lifts the 'gear as an offering of sorts. New friends, look! Look! She would like to share this toy!]}

I, er... N-No, it's...

_{[Bertolt worries at his lip and glances to the building, shaking his head.]}

It's nothing. I'm just fed up with these places.

[lyingheart]

[ Lute sniffs in her direction, looking at the 'gear. I don't think that's a toy, is all he offers on the subject. Arlert slides down off him and hops closer, more interested in Coral than the gear. ]

So you're indulging in minor property violence.

[ She doesn't particularly care, but as she notes this, she's sliding her hands into the pockets of her zip-up hoodie. She's not sure what to make of actually seeing Bertolt. She's been finding a rhythm the last few weeks, and owes him a few good throws for some of the stupid things he's said, but right now she's not irritated. She's at a loss.

He's dead, and she's not going to bring that up. He's in some stupid "can't say I care about him like that" with Jean, which is a waste of her time to bring up. Which leaves her with what? She glances to Coral. ]

Your pokemon's been playing with your 'gear.

[ It was that or small talk, and she's even worse at small talk. How are you doing? Though she finds she does actually want to know. ]

[bertall]

_{[She tilts her head - well, her whole body tilts a little, but she tries. Her trainer and his friend are always playing with these, so it's got to be a toy! Back her up, Arlert!]}

There's only a scuff on the wall.

<sub>[Should he get Marcel? No, no, even with his salt he knows that'd be overkill... Hmm...

Bertolt glances towards Coral, brows furrowed for a moment, then he rubs the side of his face.]</sub>

Coral... What did I say about putting that in your mouth?

_{[But it looks so delicious!]}

[lyingheart]

[ Arlert cheerfully scoots around to her side, calling out a happy hoot as she sets to gently bopping along to the music in the area. What about snacks? is all she says, because she doesn't need to eat as much as she does, but she really enjoys it.

Lute blinks, focusing his attention back on Coral. It's a trainer thing, he points out, as if this explains anything. They talk on it. I'm not sure how trainers play, but I don't think it's with these things. He stretches out his neck to bump his nose gently against the chewed on 'gear.

Annie watches this from her peripheral, the bulk of her attention on Bertolt. ]

What were you expecting? To break through it?

[ There's a hint of a dour edge to her voice, and then she turns away, crouching down next to Lute and looking at Coral. She holds out a hand. ]

May I have that, please?

[ Arlert takes this chance to sidle closer, giving her best pleading hungry owl look. It primarily involves opening her beak and making an encouraging sound. ]

video;

[notvaljean]

[Man, why is everyone bent out of shape about coffee today? If Jean didn't know any better, he'd say there was something in the water.]

You're going to break your ankle if you keep doing that.

[Seriously, Bertolt, it's not worth it.]

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[bertall]

_{[Sometime later when he's able to get his 'gear back, Bertolt gives the camera a tired, half-pleading look. Jean, you understand his suffering.]}

It'd be worth it if I could knock a brick or something loose. You've never spelled it wrong.

_{[Okay, maybe not worth it, but the sentiment is there.]}

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[notvaljean]

I've also known you for about five years now.

[It's not quite the same, buddy.]

Look, I don't like them either, but you're just going to hurt yourself if you try to beat up their buildings.

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[bertall]

They screw up my name when I give them 'Bert'. It's four letters.

_{[He's even spelled it a few times! And they still! Get it wrong!!]}

What else am I supposed to do, Jean?

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[notvaljean]

[He knows, buddy. He knows. He can't tell you how many times his name has been spelled John.]

Uh... stop getting coffee from them and get yourself back to FCAB?

[Obviously.]

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[bertall]

But--

_{[Mmph--! He wants to kick it again, and he he even looks conflicted.]}

Do we need anything while I'm out here?

_{[Jean, get him back before he kicks it again.]}

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[notvaljean]

We're running low on nutmeg. Why don't you go to the store and get that, and then come back to the train car?

[video]

[captainash]

...So, got an address for this place so the rest of us can boycott it?

[Hitting their walls is useless. Hitting their wallets, though...]

[video]

[bertall]

<sub>[His response doesn't come until later - after Jean has "wrangled" him back to FCAB and away from any Starmiebucks walls, but he still looks mildly perturbed.

Mildly.]</sub>

It's, uh... Starmiebucks. I didn't look at the address in town, but almost every single one I've gone to they've done it.

[video]

[captainash]

Those places with way too many coffee options? Some of those employees might be doing it out of spite after dealing with lousy clients. Still, I'll spread the word around here not to give those jerks more money. Not sure how many people will listen, though.

[video]

[bertall]

They wouldn't have lousy clients if they at least spelled their names right.

_{[Salt? What salt?]}

It's not like we've got complicated ones or anything.

[video]

[captainash]

Considering the length of some Pokémon names and their sheer number, which the average resident of this world can remember without trying, you'd think they could manage that much. The lousy clients and deliberate misnaming might be a chicken-and-egg scenario, though.

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[starry_forehead]

Wow, those guys sound like jerks. And kinda dumb.

I mean, how do you even get 'fubar' from Hoover?

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[bertall]

_{[Sometime later, Bertolt finally responds - he seems to have been pulled away from it at some point and now he sits in the little booth inside of the kitchen of FCAB, tucked in a corner. He still looks a little salty, though.]}

I don't know, but it makes me afraid to know how else they'll butcher it.

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[starry_forehead]

Can you complain to their manager or something?

[Video]

[unwantedgirl]

[Chise looks a bit..concerned when she responds, a worried frown touching her expression while beside her a Axew and Deino roar their encouragement--as does the tiny Cutiefly perched on the Deino's head.

WRECK THEM!!!!]

I..don't think attacking the building is going to be the most effective way to file your complaint.

[Video] YIKES I LOST THESE SOMEHOW TOO 5give me

[bertall]

<sub>[By the time Bertolt responds, he's been wrangled back into FCAB with his Gible. He still looks a little put-out by the whole situation, but at least he's...

stopped kicking things.

Embarrassed, slightly salty, but not kicking things.]</sub>

...It made me feel a little better, at least.

[Video] OMG HOW DDAAAREEEE <3

[unwantedgirl]

I..suppose that's a good thing at least. Why were you so mad at a building?

[A pause then she looks ashamed of herself.]

I-If you don't mind me asking! I mean I heard what you said but I--I suppose I just..don't understand completely??