victory_road | [video]

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[The video feed starts like any other with Keith marching out of the Violet City gym with a shiny Zephyr badge in his hand. He holds it up to the pokegear camera with a grin.]

Heh, these gym challenges aren't so tough. Almost feel bad about the beating Faulkner's team took. Guess I can actually fly around legitimately now.

[As opposed to you know. Bribing his Skarmory with food every single time and never quite ending up where he wanted to be.... but that;s besides the point.

It's especially besides the point when a wormhole opens up right by the Violet City gym and from it emerges a large Buzzwhol.]

What the--

[The nuscle bug seems to notice Keith at exactly the same moment and immediately begins to flex. Keith blinks because... what even.... The ultra beast's meaning becomes a whole lot clearer when it charges towards Keith who immediately does a diving roll out of the way, then gets right back up, knife clenched in one hand. At this point, the pokegear's been dropped on the ground, so the visual is one of a rather peaceful looking sky with some while some unreassuring audio blares on.]

You wannna go?! Let's go.

[ooc: feel free to tag in with action if you're around violet city, as well.]

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[Steve makes a sound of disgusted fear, peering in close to the screen as though that will somehow allow him to see any better.]

Eeeaarggh! What is that thing?

[Ah shit, the feed's still rolling. Keith's a little preoccupied by the beefy mosquito, but he shouts over.]

No clue!

[Woop, time to dodge a punch.]

They're aliens or something! It's happened before, but the last time they were more like origami shuriken!

[Stiiiiiiill can't see anything, and that still isn't stopping him straining to try.]

Wait, they're aliens? I thought they only had monsters here!

[Not that. That isn't a huge deal. But now that's another thing he has to wrap his head around.]

[Well Steve sure is in luck because apparently the noise coming from the pokegear has caught Buzzwhol's attention.]

Dunno what else to call these things! They're not like regular pokemon you can catch -- rrgh, take this!

[Keith throws a punch of his own at the Ultra Beast, which almost seems amused by that. It looks at Keith for a second , mouthparts opening and closing before going over towards the gear. Then seeing another face on the screen, it begins to... flex????

Keith just stares at this.]

.... okay. I'm definitely dreaming.

[Okay, no. He could have lived without seeing this. He regrets wanting to see this thing closer.

Steve flexing? Super cool and a total chick magnet, obviously. This bug thing flexing? He's going to have nightmares.]

Ergh! Gross. Why has it stopped attacking you?

[Don't make it sound like you preferred that, Steve.]

[Wow, that's rude, Steve. Why are you not impressed by this Buzzwhole's pecs? The Ultra Beast flexes yet again; the gun show would probably be kinda impressive if it wasn't so bizarre....

Keith certainly hasn't recovered from this.]

How am I supposed to know? I don't speak alien--

[...Wait.]

You keep it distracted. I'm gonna knock it down!

[Because you're a creepy bug ~~monster~~ alien, Buzzwole, that's why.]

How will I keep it distracted?! I don't speak alien!

[Just... by shouting at it is apparently the answer to that. The Buzzwole seems to be taking his yelling as encouragement, flexing up close to the camera for him. This is still terrible, and Keith needs to hurry up and tackle this weird thing already.]

Keep doing that!!

[And while muscle bug continues to flex for an unwilling audience, Keith takes his window of opportunity to run full tilt and then leap onto the Ultra Beast's beefy back in an attempt to put it some kind of chokehold. Hi, Steve.

The Buzzwhole actually loses balance there for a second, teetering on its three legs, though with a flap of its wings it manages to right itself. ....Except Keith's still on the damn thing's back and now they're both hovering about a foot off the ground.]

What the-- put me down!

[....Which Buzzwhole seems to take a little too much to its alien heart. It shakes Keith off who lands with a heavy thud next to the pokegear.]

Okay that didn't work.

Edited 2019-10-03 01:35 (UTC)

Woah! Are you okay, guy?

[At least he's still alive. When he'd dropped to the ground like that Steve had been momentarily worried he might have just witnessed a murder.]

Send your Pokémon to fight it. You're obviously not strong enough.

[Oh perfect, that's just what he loves to hear. "Not strong enough." Even when it's abundantly obvious, it's still making him grit his teeth in annoyance. If only he knew the half of it; if muscle bug wanted to do some serious damage Steve really could be witnessing a murder, but mercifully for the both of them--]

I was just at the gym! They're kinda weakened right now--

[Snatching up the pokegear to get a proper look at Steve, Keith breathes out. The Buzzwhole lands several feet away.]

Gonna have to try something else.

[Beef bug crouches, ready to lunge. But this time, Keith stands his ground and ... flexes? And somehow this is making the bug pause?? ...Have fun making sense of this, Steve.]

Um....

[This is extremely weird. Why isn't anyone kicking anyone else's butts? This isn't how fights are supposed to go?]

What are you doing? Why isn't that thing ripping your head off right now?

[Judging from the look on Keith's face he's just as fucking bewildered right now. There's a cold bead of sweat trickling down the back of his neck as the regroups to stare the bug down more aggressively. Maybe this is like with other wild animals or something -- carry yourself like the leader in order to gain respect??]

I think....

[The Buzzwhole stares right back, antenna flicking. It takes a step forward, power flexing a huge bicep. Keith mirrors that motion exactly, flexing back in return. If this were an old Western, there'd be a ball of dust rolling right on by....]

I think this is how it talks.

Weird...

[For someone who claims not to want to see this, Steven sure is staring pretty intently. His face is practically up against the screen. For some reason he just can't look away.]

You should see if it copies you, too. Make it do push ups.

[Can it do push ups with four legs? That's a question he kind of wants to know the answer to.]

[Well, he was going to congratulate Keith. Some brotherly teasing, that kind of thing. Your first badge is an accomplishment, no matter who you are.]

[And then there's that too-familiar light. The hole in reality. And the pride turns rapidly into panic.]

Keith! Don't --!

[But that's literally all he can do. Shout into his 'gear. Shout and feel utterly helpless that something could come and -- it could happen to Keith while all he does is sit here and stare. There's no way he and Green could get to Violet --]

[See. he had absolutely zero intentions of broadcasting anything concerning, but that kind of all went to hell the second that wormhole opened and a muscle mosquito alien showed up wanting to throw down. C'est la vie...??

But he does recognize Shiro's voice immediately and it's enough of a distraction that when Buzzwhole comes lunging towards him, it actually manages to tackle him to the ground before Keith's able to dodge it properly.]

Shiro--

[That's through grit teeth as the muscle bug ends up.... standing on his back. And flexes. Keith grabs the fallen pokegear. Resulting video is probably not very good for Shiro's health but objectively kinda funny.]

I got this. [And then letting go of the gear, Keith grabs the bug by a leg.

Who knows if he's actually got this.]

Get away from it!

[Why doesn't he have anything with teleport? Can't he use a warp pad? Why are they in the middle of -- wait. No. If he can get to town fast enough, then the warp pad -- ]

Just get away! I'm getting to you as soon as I can!

[Because he's grabbing his pokemon, and breaking into a sprint. Totally not thinking clearly. If it were just Keith versus a normal pokemon, this would be different. But it's not. It's one of those things from the holes in the sky.]

[They'd needed a whole Legendary Bird to take care of them last time...]

Trying--

[And really, he is trying. It's just kinda hard to get away from something that's literally perched on your back, y'know? After managing to twist himself around a bit more, Keith attempts to slash one of the muscle bug's lefs with his knife.

Now that definitely catches Buzzwhole's attention who seems... more perplexed than injured. The bug hops off, then glances down at its leg then to the knife in Keith's hand. For his part, Keith's getting up lightning fast and keeping his knife raised.

But they seem to have entered some kind of stand still staring contest.]

Shiro, it's... not attacking?

[Keith that's a good thing, why do you sound so confused....]

[Try harder, he almost says. If only because his brain is firmly entrenched in the irrational panic these things bring out in him. It would literally only be worse if this were one of the jellyfish. Those are legitimately the worst, in his mind.]

[If he were paying attention to the feed, he'd have noticed that reaction. Or any of the fight, really. As it stands, he's too busy running down the path to do much of anything -- ]

[Until Keith calls out. Sounding baffled. It's enough to get Shiro to jerk to a halt, looking at the 'gear again.]

... what do you mean, it's not attacking?

[Now they both sound confused.]

I .. I dunno, it's just...

[Standing there, staring Keith down. And then striking a pose to FLEX its wonderful bulging pectorals. You can practically hear the /record scratch going on in Keith's brain.]

Uh Shiro are we seeing the same thing.

[He'll hold up the pokegear camera to make sure the gun show is being broadcast.]

It's what, Keith!

[Sorry to snap, but. You know, stress. People maybe can't die here, but injuries are entirely possible.]

[... except.]

[That is... not what he expected in any universe. He stops in place, staring at the screen with much the same expression as Keith.]

I. Am seeing the same thing.

[Sensing that it has captured both of their full and undivided attentions, Buzzwhole ups the ante on the flexing making sure to carefully show off its sculpted arms and back.

There's just a long... loooong silence on Keith's end before finally:]

..Is... is it trying to assert dominance?

[Yeah. You and him both, Keith. If Keith is standing in front of the flexing Ultra Beast, dumbfounded, Shiro is standing in the middle of a pathway, also dumbfounded.]

[What... the heck...]

Your guess is... really as good as mine.

[Squinting real hard at this muscle bug. He should probably be using the time in which it isn't attacking to formulate some kind of plan, but it is... extremely distracting.]

I think.,, I'm going to have very strange dreams tonight.

[To put it mildly.

The Buzzwhole stops and stares. Almost... expectantly?]

Keith... try -- try flexing at it.

[This sounds bizarre to say out loud. But bear with him. He's seen it work with Incineroars. That's how the big muscle cats bond.]

[So why not... whatever this is?]

[Coming from anyone else, Keith would suspect he's being punked right about now, but he trusts Shiro to know when is and isn't the time. Even so, that's still not stopping Keith from directing that raised eyebrow at the pokegear camera for a second. Not saying anything, but his thoughts are being pretty well broadcast here.]

If you say so. [Then directed at the Ultra beast:] Check this--!

[Rolling up his sleeve, Keith flexes a bicep. A mediocre bicep in comparison to Buzzwhole's sculpted ones, that's for sure, but the alien tilts its head, contemplating. And then immediately proceeds to do a freaking dab.]

Uh.. is that a good sigh?

[IS THIS A DANCE OFF NOW.]

[Listen, he's glad Keith trusts him this much. He really is. But on the other hand, he's... a little concerned at how well this actually worked. It feels like there should be more to one of those horrible things than just... flexing at it. That's how you bond with the Incineroars.]

[That... shouldn't also work on whatever these things are.]

I -- I can't tell you. I think so?

[It's still not attacking, so???]

[ It's a weird thought of routine they've fallen into, setting up camp in visible distance from each other every evening while they go their own way to train during the day. They don't talk, not much, but Lilly likes to go over to the enemy to socialize with his Pokémon. James just... finds Keith's presence comforting, in the weirdest of ways.

As he returns today though, Lilly is not running over to greet Keith's team, she's hiding behind his legs... and it really doesn't take James long to understand why.

He's just. staring. at that muscley bug. Help?? ]

What's with... this.

[It isn't just Lillipup that's avoiding the beef bug, it's practically everyone on Keith's team with the exception of Houndoom who is determined not to look weak. The doggo keeps his distance on Keith's right, occasionally huffing out an ember into the campfire while Buzzwhole sits on Keith's left apparently very very amused by the fact that its shadow is flexing, too.

Keith meanwhile continues to roast a marshmallow like this is the most normal thing in the world right now.]

Nothing. Met a new buddy after beating up Faulkner.

[ It is not the most normal thing in the world. James picks up Lilly from the floor, somehow suddenly very unsure about having her roam freely with this... odd creature around. Calling something an 'odd creature' when Pokémon exist feels a little hypocritical, but not entirely inappropriate. ]

Are you seriously adding this... alien... to your team? We don't even know what they want.

[That's getting a shrug as he carefully turns his marshmallow on the spit.]

I didn't add this guy or anything. He's just following me now. Think we're slowly understanding each other.

[Possibly. As Buzzwhole continues to flex his shadow muscles.....]

Look, he kinda reminds me of Mothman, alright? How bad could he be?

[ James looks at Lilly and Lilly looks at James. She's shaking a little, but it seems like she gave her go-ahead to walk closer to Keith's camp at least. ]

I don't know anything about cryptids, but I wasn't aware mothman was a bodybuilder...

Do you have to be so literal.

[Says the guy who takes things too literally on a frequent enough basis that this is hypocritical, but....!! As James approaches, the Buzzwhole immediately gets up, looking James directly in the eyes.]

[ James stops dead in his tracks as Buzzwole moves. Tensely, he waits for its next action. ]

I get it, I get it, it's a giant bug... but this guy's not even fuzzy.

[ But he'll keep bickering with Keith up, just to calm his nerves. ]

[James is just getting the flattest look in response. That's it. For a whole three seconds before Keith prods the Buzzwhole in the leg with a stick.]

C'mon buddy. He's an idiot but he's not a threat. Eat this instead.

[Keith hands the marshmallow over to muscle bug who looks at the offering in confusion. Keith raises an eyebrow.]

You know. Fooooooooooood. [Said deliberately elongated and slowly, accompanied with some miming of shoveling food into his mouth with a spoon. This is concluded with a flex of his right arm.

Buzzwhole immediately sticks a proboscis into the center of the marshmallow. ]

[ James watches this whole interaction go down in that very same frozen position he's assumed upon Buzzwole's approach. Is it still terror holding him in place...? Is it terror that he feels at Keith's embarrassing intonation and his weird display of muscle strength? Yeah. Yeah, it's terror. Of a kind he's never experienced before.

Keith is being kind of funny.

Hell, the whole interaction is even kind of cute.

And also James is staring and has probably been staring in silence for a few seconds now. Whatever expression he's having, he's not sure he could even guess at it himself. ]

.... you can't just keep naming them all 'buddy'. They'll get confused.

[And during that blessed period of time where James does nothing but stare in silence, Keith's focus is on the muscle bug. looking... almost proud as it sucks up the contents of the marshmallow. Really, he's pretty pleased with himself that this whole alien diplomacy thing is working out.]

Not bad, right?

[Then James speaks up, and the smile instantly fades from Keith's face. Figures the guy has to be critical of him when he's unlocking the secrets to alien diplomacy.]

You know what? If it'll shut you up, fine.

[Expression softening as he looks back at Buzzwhole, Keith folds his arms. Brow furrowing because this is a whole lot of responsibility.....!!]

How about... Buggy?

Edited 2019-10-07 07:59 (UTC)

[ Keith can't be serious, but he is. It's written all over his face, it rings through every cadence of his voice... This stupid complete earnesty in naming a monster from another dimension 'Buggy'.

James feels like he is learning more about Keith than he ever wanted to know, in just these few moments. ]

It's... certainly a start.

You're so gonna get your ass kicked.

[After all, this Keith's still as noodly as Lance is. Also Lance is speaking from experience.]

[You know. As much as their friendship kinda-sorta feels like tiptoeing around a minefield, the whole "being polite" thing is really the last thing on Keith's mind right now as the beef bug flexes some bulging pecs and pounds a fist into its open hand. Why does this thing even have hands, who knows.]

Shut up, Lance--!

[Stated through grit teeth as Keith flicks the knife in his hand around to opint at the Buzzwhole.]

Unless you got something useful to say, I don't wanna hear it.

[As of right now, Lance has no idea where their relationship is headed, but as far as he knows, Keith is about to get his ass pounded into the ground with at least three of those four spiky legs, so he's got to say something. He could tell Keith to try catching it, but Lance is pretty sure Keith wouldn't like such obvious tips.]

I do have something to say.

[Now whether that's useful or not remains to be seen.]

You don't bring a knife to a Pokemon fight.

[Not. Definitely not.]

[If he wasn't busy staring down this alien threat, Lance would be getting just the flattest look ever, but looks like Arceus is on Lance's side for now.]

Duly. Noted.

[Stated so dryly, it'll make your skin chafe. Muscle bug takes a stand, hands on its hips for a second, staring at the shiny pointy object in Keith's hands. It seems... really curious about it, tilting its head left and right, then emits some unintelligible buzzing grunting noise.]

[Luckily for Lance, he moisturizes pretty well so Keith's salty attitude doesn't chafe one bit]

That's not a Pokemon I've ever seen before. If you run, I won't tell anyone.

[He really wouldn't. Sometimes it's better to make a strategic retreat than take a muscle-bound wormhole bug face on. But this is Keith he's talking to so Lance is pretty sure he's wasting his breath.]

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action; after befriendo time

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3/3 done!!

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