victory_road | 4th Match // [video / action] Route 38 (November 1st)

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4th Match // [video / action] Route 38 (November 1st)

[Today's video is focused on a Blaziken - the tall bird is reclining peacefully on the ground not too far from what seems to be a road, head propped on one hand-like claw, and very patiently tolerating a small yellow Charmander using it as a living climbing structure.

The Blaziken only moves when the Charmander starts to wobble, reaching out to steady it with its free claw.

The touching scene is sadly interrupted when the guy behind the camera speaks up, his voice a grumbling yet concerned growl:]

Torch dragons are orange. Is this one sick?

[ooc: Extremely backdated to November 1st thanks to Life, the Universe, and Everything. :')]

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[Well, since it's either that or the difference between training and breeding, he's just going to choose the least traumatizing option.]

Trainers are expected to travel, earn badges and someday defeat the Elite Four. Breeders are supposed to crossbreed various Pokémon species until they obtain the best potential child. Each duty comes with perks, whether they involve eggs or money.

[Good choice, Cecil.]

Trainers get money, breeders get eggs?

[Okay, that makes sense. He guesses that also means that he's a "trainer"...which is the better deal as far as he's concerned. Eggs are great but money is even better.]

What's an Elite Four?

That's right.

[There might be no fee for healing or weapons to buy, but having the means of feeding a literal army of hungry critters takes priority over acquiring more of said critters.]

They're strongest trainers is both Johto and Kanto, supposedly. They can only be challenged after earning sixteen badges and crossing Victory Road, though no one has accomplished the feat yet.

[That....actually piques his interest.]

Sounds like a challenge!

[And like something to do. Being kind of directionless for the last couple months has been fine - a nice break from the life-or-death existence on Pandora, honestly - but like any vacation, it's starting to get...stale.]

It is the challenge, as far as this world is concerned. Even greater than earning your second set of badges against Elite teams, and that necessitated both strength and cleverness as it is.

[Cecil had been directionless for almost four years, when the road finally opened. The last few months' training have been his most productive in ages.]

How many badges do you have?

Sixteen.

[There's pride and delight and a hint of encouragement in his voice. It can be done! Really!]

Earning them took me exactly two years.

[Well shit, son! Krieg shoves his masked face up nice and close to the 'Gear, a clear sign of his interest in the answer to his next question.]

Are you gonna take the challenge?

Of course. I merely need to ensure Rosa is fully settled in, before I leave for Victory Road in the Indigo Plateau

[By 'fully settled in' he means 'not going to suddenly vanish if I close my eyes', but after so many years that's an expected worry.]

[Have a curious head tilt, Cecil.]

Rosa?

My wife. My wife's past self, from before the wedding.

[The detail is somewhat important.]

We come from seventeen years apart, but there are have been larger time disrepancies between people from the same worlds before. We manage.

[He squints as he tries to process that bit of information, rolling it around in his head for a few moments before pulling his face away to a more comfortable distance, and declaring:]

Sounds confusing.

It is. We've also had cases of people with the same name and faces showing up at the same time, from two different worlds. Or people from the same land, but separated by centuries. Keeping track of all the possibilities is... complicated.

[Even for someone who is not particularly crazy.]

Mngh...you can keep track.

[Krieg's gonna be over here, not worrying about it.]

Give it a year or two, and you'll be accepting all timeline and universe issues with a smile yourself.

[Or with an... intense and disturbing stare?]

[Or with an intense and disturbing grin. That no one can see, because mask.]

Not even gonna worry about it.

[S H R U G]

I suppose that's the simplest way to deal with the issue, if you care little for the details of our presence here.

[Which is totally a valid option. Really.]

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4th Match // [video / action] Route 38 (November 1st)

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