in4apounding | [003] - 2/26; Video/Action for Goldenrod

[003] - 2/26; Video/Action for Goldenrod

[The camera angle is low to the ground, and a little shakey. Whichever of Penny's Pokémon is playing cameraman today doesn't have a very good grip.]

[The action being filmed, at least, is probably clear enough. And more than likely familiar to anyone who's been in Pokéworld long enough. Penny facing Goldenrod's pink-haired gym leader across a small arena, Metagross versus Miltank.]

Miltank! Use Rollout!

Don't let her build up speed, Iris! Hammer Arm, like we practiced!

[It's an impressive clash, to be sure, the impacts reverberating around the gym. But ultimately type advantage wins out, the Miltank collapsing in a solid K.O.]

Sen-SATIONAL! Good work, Iris!

Sob...

What?

Waaaaaaah! You're mean! You shouldn't be so serious!

What? Oh, no no no-!

[The feed cuts off as a distressed Penny runs across the arena towards the even more distressed Whitney.]

[A second broadcast comes about half an hour after the first, this time with Penny grinning and holding up a freshly-acquired Plainbadge with pride.]

I won another badge! The battle was definitely more challenging than Faulkner, but Iris pulled through for the win!

[Her smile fades a little as she stows the badge somewhere offscreen.]

I just wasn't expecting Whitney to take the loss THAT hard. I'd heard losing upsets her -and I don't blame her, losing sucks!- but to actually start crying like that? If nothing else you'd think a gym leader would be used to losing.

[Penny chews her lip for a second.]

If those waterworks are a regular thing, I'm surprised she's not completely WASHED UP! Ha! ...sorry, that was a little mean.

((OOC: Badge is mod-approved!))

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Congratulations, Penny! I'm going to have to get on those myself sometime soon.

[A moment's pause, then --]

...and you've clearly been hanging out with Yang long enough to pick up on her puns.

Thanks Weiss! Once your Pokémon are leveled up some more, I know you can do it!

Does she have anything with type advantage? Penny doesn't think so, but she knows enough about Weiss to know she's no pushover.]

You think? I guess it just seemed sort of funny that someone whose job is basically to lose would be so touchy about it.

Edited 2016-03-01 04:00 (UTC)

I'm sure of it.

[She nods.]

That really is odd. Maybe it was just a bad day?

I sure hope so, it'd just be kind of SAD otherwise.

[She thinks for a second, looking more serious.]

The gym leaders are the closest thing I've seen to actual civic leadership here, have you noticed that? Like can you imagine if Professor Ozpin or Mister Ironwood threw a tantrum like that every time something bad happened?

If Ozpin or Ironwood threw a temper tantrum even once, I'm pretty sure Professor Goodwitch would put a fast stop to that. I do not ever want to see what happens when someone gets on her bad side.

She sounds like she'd be really scary if she were mad, yes.

[Would the Goodwitch become a Bad Witch?]

I can't imagine your sister would tolerate that kind of behavior from Mr. Ironwood either. Hey, maybe that's what Whitney needs; someone who'll just shut her down when she starts losing it like that.

Oh, god, she cried on you, too? Christ, I thought it was just me. That's kind of a relief.

Yeah, it was just like-

[She gestures a little vaguely, trying to indicate gushing tears.]

-like an actual waterfall out of nowhere or something. Iris didn't hit her Miltank THAT hard.

[Well, it was probably SUPER hard, but not for a Pokemon.]

...I think she called me a child somewhere in there, too. I'm not sure how old she is, but I don't think she's that much older than us.

Yeah, I figured she might be college age. Like, eighteen or nineteen. And really, with all the bawling and shit, she's got no call acting like we're the infants here.

[He lifts his chin to indicate how hard he's rolling his eyes behind the shades.]

Anyway, congrats. Though obviously if I could do it, you were a total shoo-in, Pen.

Don't sell yourself short! You do a great job with your Pokémon.

[Which is admittedly a statement based more on her faith in a friend than what she's seen of his training regimen.]

She seemed more pre-school than university age, really.

[She stops and thinks for a second, then snorts back a bit of a giggle.]

Hey, maybe it's because that Miltank is her signature monster. I mean, she really had a cow.

[It would be here, had Penny the requisite experience with cultural norms, that she might realize that Dave is in fact slightly less cool than he ordinarily makes himself out to be, because he actually snort-laughs at the pun.]

Penny--! Snrk, hahaha, girl, oh my god, that was so bad.

[Don't be ridiculous, puns are obviously the height of humor.]

[And now Dave's gone and encouraged her.]

Ha, maybe. But is it as bad as gym leader crying over spilled milk?

Eh, I'm still reasonably sure the first one was worse. Seems kind of unsportsmanlike to go and launch a pun assault on someone after already making her crack open a bottle of sobbing, though.

I guess it is a little nasty.

[Looking a little sheepish, but still grinning at her own joke.]

In my defense, I don't think the gym leaders actually check the network. At least, I've never seen one of them make any kind of broadcast?

It's the principle of the thing, Pen. I didn't raise you like this.

[And that gets another snorting laugh.]

You're not my real dad.

[Spoken around another stifled laugh.]

You actually let me talk to people.

[That pings him weirdly, but, well.]

If I didn't, you'd never have any good influences on your growing mind and shit. This is how I choose to delegate my parental obligation to educate. Broaden those horizons, champ. Spread those wings.

[She's... trying not to laugh. And failing.]

That's a good way of putting it! Wish I'd thought of it back home.

"I'm sorry about the damage to the shipyard those Bullheads did when I brought them down, Mr. Ironwood, but it was in the name of personal education."

Exactly. It's a learning experience. Call it an opportunity for growth, people love that crap. Also, what's a Bullhead.

Oh! It's a type of aircraft on Remnant. Single-pilot with vertical take-off and landing abilities, capable of carrying about thirty people on top of heavy cargo-hauling ability, and armed with a rotating machine-gun turret under the nose.

[Hmm.]

So, like...a giant...helicopter? A guncopter. A jumbo military guncopter.

You brought how many of those down?

I guess? I'm not sure what a helicopter is.

...Four of them.

[Her cheeks get a little pink here, but she's still looking sort of proud.]

A bunch of guys from this group called the White Fang were using them to steal whole shipping containers of Dust, the stuff that powers our weapons and everything? I don't know what they could've needed that much for, but it couldn't have been good. And- um.

[She gets a little redder.]

The guy leading them kind of. Shot at. Ruby.

Oh, wow. Okay, legit, that's totally uncool of them. Good thing you were there to fuck shit up.

[HAH he's safe, Yang hasn't instituted the swear jar this far back in time, I totally just scrolled up to check the date. Past Dave wins this round, suckers.]

Ha, I guess. I mean, I'm sure Ruby and her friends could've handled it even if I wasn't!

[She sobers up just a bit.]

Dad wasn't too happy, though. I wasn't supposed to be out at ALL, never mind fighting a bunch of thieves.

[And brightening back up a bit.]

I think it was worth it, though.

[Huh. Penny's speech patterns sound kinda different today, but hell if Dave can put his finger on it. Maybe it's just the post-win buzz.]

Four downed guncopterzillas is absolutely goddamn fucking worth it. Good work, Pen, I'm proud of you. Do you want a medal. I can make you a medal.

I almost want to yes, actually!

[She thinks for a second, then bursts out laughing again. It takes a second before she speaks, quietly, around her own snickering.]

...Would that be a Metal-Huntress Medal?

[Ruby, of course, is right off to the side of the arena, rooting Penny on as any good cheerleader should. Once the match is over and Whitney's tantrum is quelled, Ruby runs over, arms waving enthusiastically and a bright smile on her face.]

Congratulations, Penny!! I knew you could do it!!!

[Penny runs to meet Ruby, catching her in an equally enthusiastic hug and a laugh.]

Thank you, Ruby! You were a big help too!

[Because moral support? Either way she claps Ruby on the shoulder, proudly holding up her new badge in the other hand.]

I know once your Pokémon level up some more you'll do great kicking her butt too!

[You know the good thing about being trapped in this world? With Penny human, Ruby can totally get revenge on her for those big enthusiastic hugs! So when she runs over, Ruby easily lifts her, spinning in a circle as she giggles.]

That won't be for a while, though! Mine are all great, but yours re so powerful, I can't match them yet!

You'll catch up sooner or later!

[Still laughing from the hug-spin, buzzing from it and the victory.]

Semblance or not, speed's kind of your thing, isn't it? You're gonna be sensational! I just had a head-start.

[Ruby can't hide the hint of redness on her cheeks at the compliment. Geez, it's one thing when strangers do it, but this...!

It feels good, though.]

Speed's not everything, y'know. I mean, it's great and all, but sometimes a head start will keep you above everyone for a long time!

It's pretty important, though!

[It's possible the original metaphor has been slightly forgotten at this point.]

And I could help you train, if you want! I'm not gonna let my bestie lag behind too much.

[Is it really that surprising that the metaphor got messed up with these two?]

Hey, I can't say no to that! [She giggles.] And I bet it'd be nice for you, huh? Being the one teaching me instead of the other way around?

Ha, I hadn't thought of it like that but I guess so!

[She grins.]

Though if I had to say it myself, I'd say it's more getting to repay you for gor being such a great friend for once! Without jumping in front of a truck this time.

Hey, good one.

[lancer do not encourage the puns]

She still does that? Man, you'd think she'd get used to losing after a while.

Aha, thanks.

[At least she's coming up with quality rudeness?]

I know, right? She's been the gym leader here for at least a few years, hasn't she? Probably longer. I'd almost be afraid to see what she's like if her Elite team loses.

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[003] - 2/26; Video/Action for Goldenrod

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