victory_road | ⊕ 001 & action option

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⊕ 001 & action option

[ he's not into showing his face off. once he verifies there's a public network and an audio option, he begins to opt for that. but then he looks at all the videos of people and their pokemon, and decides o a different option.

the video opens on the sandy beaches of cherrygrove. his rockruff, bandit, is in the surf, chasing what looks like a stick. he brings it back to jack, who pets his head and then throws it again. his location will also ping as cherrygrove. ]

The name's Jack.

[ his voice is distinctly older, and very rough. it sounds like he may have damaged his throat at some point in his life. his hand, when he throws the stick or pets bandit, is gloved. ]

I've been looking around this place and it looks like the consensus is that people can't go home on their own. I'm not here to ask how to get home, since it seems like that's been covered pretty well.

I wanna talk to those of you that have gone home, or know people that did. And... for those that don't, how you're dealing with not being able to.

[ he ends the video on that note, throwing the stick again for bandit. ]

( cherrygrove )

[ for those actually in his vicinity, they can likely hear jack make the post. other than that, he's spending some time on the beach, playing with bandit and getting his energy out. he's just as open to a battle if you two have similarly leveled pokemon.

or maybe bandit, with all his energy, comes running up to your pokemon and headbutts them. at which point jack follows. ]

Bandit. Come back here.

[ the wagging of his tail doesn't amuse jack. ]

Sorry about him.

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[The tap to her forehead makes Sasha wrinkle her nose, but unlike the physical affection earlier, she doesn't shy away from it.]

Well, if that's the case, then nothing's wrong with them. Just because they are different doesn't mean people can look down on them. That's not right. It's hurtful and mean and they should stop because what if someone else looks down on those humans for not being as smart as other humans? They wouldn't like it either.

[Someone's speaking from clear experience. Sasha doesn't have to know anything about robots to know that if they have feelings and can think, then they deserve basic respect. Just like people from outside the big cities and bigger villages deserve basic respect. People like her.

They aren't like Titans, mindless and only out to kill and destroy.]

You probably wouldn't be surprised to hear people look down on people for that, too, as well as other shitty things.

[ but jack is not here to talk to sasha about civil rights, beyond what he just got into a little bit with the omnics.

she definitely is speaking from experience, that much is clear. ]

You shouldn't look down on anyone unless they're hurting someone. Then you can look down on them all you want, in my opinion.

I'm not. I know they do. I know they do very well.

[But unless Jack asks, Sasha will leave that subject there. Or she would if he didn't add that next part.]

No, because that doesn't fix things. It just makes you salty.

[Now where did she learn that term from? It's a sheer miracle Sasha doesn't litter every sentence with the slang she's picked up from a house full of modern day teenagers.]

You can't live without other people, so if everybody looked down on each other for whatever reason, we'll never get anywhere.

[Unbeknownst to her, Sasha's dad would be very proud of her right now.]

[ where did she learn that? that's from jack's youth. either way, her point is very well made, and he looks surprised, and then nods. ]

You know what, kid? You're right. It takes a lot of work to help other people understand.

[ ... work that admittedly, jack is no longer interested in doing. better to be stuck on revenge than trying to improve things, right?

cough, cough. ]

Sounds like you should be lecturing me, instead. [ he ruffles her hair a little. ]

[Sasha used to be stuck on revenge. Her version was a lot less violent and more like sitting back and hogging all the resources while the people who made fun of her people for their way or living and speaking suffered. Much like they did when Dauper suffered.

But she's matured a lot over time and learned that some of her former beliefs were all out wrong. Sometimes improving things, fighting to improve them against all odds, is the way to go.]

I'm not a kid. [Yet she's pouting and swatting lightly at his hand, looking very much like a kid.] I'm seventeen years old!

[Not old enough to vote or drink, but in her mind, totally old enough to join the military and probably get married or something.]

[ jack lets her swat at his hand, laughing gently. ]

And I'm over sixty, so you know - you're a kid to me, Sasha.

[ but he's grinning, in a good mood. bandit barks and tries to jump between them. are we playing?? he wants to play!! ]

Just because you're old doesn't mean everybody else is a kid to you. It just means I have to respect my elders more the older they are.

[Yeah, Grandpa! That means she has to help you cross the street and put in your teeth and mash up your food so you can eat when you forget to put them in.

Playing? Sure, they can play now that Omelette has finished both their snacks and comes and barrels into Bandit's side.]

And it means I get to be an ornery old man who calls people kid... or sport, or champ.

[ he's grinning at her still.

omelette barrels into bandit, who yelps but then wraps his paws around omelette's shell, rolling around. ]

Well, you have grey hair already, so it's only some time before you lose your teeth too.

[There's no spice behind her words, just honest to goodness amusement. Who knew sassing her elders could be so fun? Especially when said adults don't yell at her just for existing.]

Omelette, be careful or you'll kick his butt too hard!

[Even though she gives a warning, Sasha lets go of Bandit so he can take the Togepi down properly. She isn't afraid Omelette will get hurt. He might be half an egg, but his little feet and hands are giving Bandit as good as he's getting it.]

Oh, yeah? Then I'll just get some wooden teeth and chase you around with them in my hand.

[ he sounds like he's enjoying this sass she's giving him and giving it back.

bandit gives a little yell - he's gonna beat this egg god darn it - as he playfully paws at the togepi, getting repeatedly smacked in the face by his hands. ]

[Sasha grins and tucks her legs closer to her, not closing off, no, but loosening up. Getting comfortable around Jack. It's a good thing.]

You shouldn't run at your age. You could break a hip, you know.

[Or so she's heard. Not too many old people where she's from to really ask about it, but she's heard a lot about broken hips on TV!]

[ it's definitely a good thing. jack remembers how shy fareeha and gabriel's kids had been at first, so he's glad sasha is comfortable with him to a degree. ]

I'd bet you I could outrun you in a race, actually. We'll save the hip replacements for when I'm ninety, thanks.

Sixty is closer to ninety than seventeen. Even I know that. You don't have that much time left to race me.

[She at least knows how to count. We'll leave the algebra to Armin.

In the meantime, a cloud of dust rolls by between Jack and Sasha, a dustball consisting of Bandit and Omelette continuing to horse around like baby Pokemon do.]

Guess we'll have to get started soon, eh?

[ he reaches up to tap her shoulder, teasing. the pokemon go rolling past, and he reaches in and plucks out bandit, who's panting and still flailing his little paws around. ]

All right, come on, you're not winning, buddy.

[When Bandit is plucked off of Omelette, the little egg stands up on his tiny feet and cheers as if he won fair and square instead of Jack breaking them up.

Sasha leans over and pats him on the head, but her eyes are on Jack, a dangerous glint of competition in her eyes.]

You're the one not winning unless I go easy on your old bones.

[ bandit gives a protesting bark but settles down when jack puts him back on his feet, licking omelette's head and then sasha's hand.

that dangerous glint of competition? it's met in jack's eyes as well. is he really going to race a seventeen year old girl?

you bet your bippy he is. ]

You know where the exit to Route 30 is? We can do first from here to there and back.

[Yes, is he really? Grandpa, please. You can't cut it with the whippersnappers anymore.

Sasha stands up and shakes her legs out, arching her neck until it cracks. If this old fart wants a race, he's going to get the race of his lifetime.]

Yes, I do. What will I win when you don't make it back?

[Not if, but when.]

Bragging rights.

[ when that probably doesn't cut it, he laughs. ]

Listen, I'm good with a grill. I'll make you a nice steak dinner when it starts warming up, how about that?

[He's right. Bragging doesn't matter when there's meat on the line.]

I live on the Islands. It's always warm there, so you don't have to wait.

[None of this "when it starts warming up" business. All that gives Jack is time to dismiss her when it does warm up on the rest of the continent.]

The islands?

[ guess who has no idea about these island places, sasha? ]

You mean to tell me there's an island to retreat to around here?

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⊕ 001 & action option

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