[video / action for the parking lot of the violet city dedenny's]

[meteorman]

[At a little past three in the morning a video shows up on the 'gear. Ford has been something of a cryptid as of late -- more than he usually is -- and this picture just hammers that home. He's standing in what looks like... the parking lot of a Dedenny's? The lighting isn't great considering he's outside at night, which really adds to the ambience. The light from the sign glints off his glasses. He looks a little manic, but what's new?]

Come to -- what's the phrase-- come to the Violet City Dedenny's if you want an asskicking.

[Look at him, learning memes that are simultaneously from his future and also extremely out of date.]

I'm turning seventy-four in one week. I want to start celebrating early.

[There's a momentary pause.]

I should clarify I am referring to a Pokémon battle. If you were to physically fight me it wouldn't be very fair to you.

I am also open to verbal debate if you don't feel like coming all the way to Violet at three in the morning. I've noticed there isn't egalitarian appreciation of Pokémon and I won't stand for it. Every Pokémon is cute, not only your standard Eevee or Cleffa.

[He lifts up a fat little Pyukumuku. It extends its 'hand' and bops him gently on the face, skewing his glasses.]

You look at Eviscerator and tell her she isn't adorable.

Comments

[nastyboy]

[Dimitri should not be up at 3 in the morning]

[Dimitri should not be considering getting into a fight with the very nice man who gave him a painted picture of Gremlin With Sunflower.]

[but here we are]

If I came to meet you, would you promise not to tell my boyfriends? [okay, good, he's able to use plural casually now, awesome] And also -ah, are you not a gym leader, Sir Pines? Would this count as an official gym match, or simply for fun?

[meteorman]

[Counterpoint: friendly fighting is the doorway to friendship. This is a natural progression of their acquaintanceship.]

... You know, I hadn't considered that.

I think if you decide to come all the way to a Dedenny's parking lot at three in the morning that's enough to count for a badge. We'll tell your boyfriends you earned it the traditional way.

[Unless they like... scroll back and see this post but you know what, one thing at a time.]

It isn't as though the League can tell me it isn't official enough, they've given out badges just because the sprinkler system went off at the wrong time and no one complained.

[nastyboy]

Excellent! Then, I will try to make my way over right now. Although, it may take me a few moments. I would not want to show up in pajamas, and I am in Olivine as well.

[Is he going to make himself sick in the course of teleportation for a Dedenny parking lot fight? yes]

It will be good to meet you properly in person as well! I have always wanted to for quite some time now.

[meteorman]

[Ford has absolutely made himself sick warping all over the place. Once on accident and then once on purpose to see exactly how many he could do before he had to stop.

This man is a menace.]

If you did show up in pajamas I wouldn't judge you. My brother almost never wears pants and he's still perfectly capable.

What levels are you working with? If you're going to be a moment I may see about swapping around my team to be sure we're evenly matched.

[nastyboy]

Still, I would feel rude... Please hold on one moment.

[He's just gonna switch this sucker to voice while he changes out of his clothes and gets a pack ready. Just in case!]

Well... As of this moment, I actually only have two amongst my team who are Level 100, and those closest to catching up with them are in the 80s...

[There's a pause as he takes in how many Pokemon he actually has, and how little are high level. Uh-]

How would one normally receive a badge of yours? This will be my first time going up an Aurora League member, so I don't have precedence on how I should adjust my own team in turn, or what would be proper.

[meteorman]

Generally you would either face off against a team of three at level fifty or a team of six at level one-hundred. Since the latter isn't an option, the former might be our best bet.

There's also an entire system of randomization I have devised for the battles proper, or I could simply use who I have on-hand.

[That's almost random anyway. It's not like he came out here primed for a gym-sanctioned battle.]

[nastyboy]

Three at level fifty...

[there's the sound of something thumping against the ground sightly.]

I have no one who is that level, but I have a few that are close in the 40s... I will try that, then. It will be good for them - Gaibhennen especially has wanted to participate in a gym battle.

Then I will see you shortly!

[Along with his boyfriend's kid, but that's, fine,]

[A fact that Ford gets to see when Dimitri jogs up, spots Chip in the middle of their Paliens battle, and points with maybe a little bit of exclamation. He's at least polite enough to wait until Chip's battle is over, where they get to have a small chat, to the side and away from Ford, about leaving notes for their dad or telling others where they're going.]

[....that's about as serious as it gets before Dimitri hugs them, gives them his wallet, and shoos them into Dedenny's for some early breakfast. They can eat together and get something for Grant too, and it'll be fine]

[Probably]

[With that settled, Dimitri finally turns his attention to Ford]

Well, that was quite a surprise. Do you need a moment to heal your Paliens?

[Is that the same term Chip was probably using, with refusal to change their language, just a few minutes before? Yes. Dimitri will not stop.]

[meteorman]

Yes, though these aren't the ones you'll be facing.

[He might be able to get an idea of what he could potentially be up against by peeking at them, though. A Dhelmise and a Decidueye. Both Grass/Ghost. Does this guy understand type coverage or is he just dumb?

It's both. He understands type coverage and he pretends he does not see it. His Elite Four team was also horrifically imbalanced and he got through just fine. Pines force of will in action!

He heals them both up, gives the Decidueye a pat on the head and the Dhelmise a pat on the... uh... seaweed clump, and recalls them.]

'Paliens' isn't one I've heard before, I'll admit. 'Alien pals'? Something similar?

[It's not rocket science.]

[nastyboy]

[No, no, Dimitri thinks he has the right idea. No type coverage, only sentimentality.]

[That explains some of the Pokemon he releases first, a little Miltank with one hoof in her mouth and the other rubbing at her eyes, and an Altaria, who promptly shoves his head into the pocket of Dimitri's leather jacket.]

[Dimitri lets him, smiling over at Ford.]

I would not know, but that seems as though it fits. That is what they are called in Chip's homeland.

[They are also just a game, anime, and card series, and not real. Dimitri has managed to grasp this much, and he is not letting it stop him.]