getthehorns | eleventh ; Video/Action for Olivine ; somebody call 911

[ Today's feed is brought to you once again by QuagsireCam^TM, as Tagalong grins and waves and the camera before turning it around. We see the interior of the Olivine Gym, where Cliffjuper is standing next to a pokémon that may or may not look familiar to some of you. Ah yes, it's Roller the Darmanitan, looking a bit determined- if one can tell the difference between "determined" and his usual frightening expression.

Jasmine, who is very used to seeing fire types in her Gym, raises her eyebrows at the Darmanitan- it's not a pokémon she sees often. Cliff gives Roller a pat on the shoulder. The pokémon snorts and sets himself. When Jasmine releases her Skarmory, the battle is on!

The Skarmory circles Roller, deceptively fast, and trying hard not to get too close. It can't evade forever, though, and the moment it gets too close, Cliff barks out an order. ]

Roller, Fire Punch!

[ The Darmanitan complies with a bellow, drawing back a massive, flame-wreathed fist, and snapping it forward to slam into the approaching Skarmory. The Steel/Flying pokémon is sent skidding across the gym floor. It comes to rest in a smoldering heap at Jasmine's feet and does not rise.

The gym leader sends out her next pokémon, a Magneton. Roller casts a glance at his trainer, who nods. ] You got it- Flare Blitz.

[ The Darmanitan tenses, fire swirling wildly around it. Roller springs forward in a mad dash, just as a lightning bolt from the Magneton strikes the ground where Roller once was. Roller launches himself into the air, colliding violently with the other pokémon, the Darmanitan's flames encircling them both. They hit the ground a roll a bit, but when the fire dies down, it's Roller who emerges, even if he does look a little beat up. The Magneton remains still, and is quickly recalled into its ball.

That just leaves Jasmine's Steelix, who looms over Roller and trainer. Poor thing. Cliff just smirks. ]

Shall we give 'em the horns, Roller?

[ The Darmanitan makes a noise of agreement, and is already prepping to attack by the time Cliff calmly orders: ] Use Overheat.

[ Roller rears back and unleashes columns of fire from his open maw. They encase the Steelix instantly, and the camera slips in and out of focus for a moment as the Steelix writhes in the bright flame. Despite its best efforts, the heat is too much and the massive pokémon goes down with the resounding sound of clanging metal.

Jasmine retrieves her still-smoking pokémon and offers Cliff the badge with quiet words of congratulations. She's used to seeing that kind of display, but it was at least interesting to see from a pokémon she doesn't encounter often.

Cliffjumper nods his thanks to the Gym Leader, and turns to Roller. The Darmanitan extends a massive fist towards his trainer, which Cliff bumps with his own. ]

Pretty awesome for your first Gym Battle!

[ It's then that he notices Tagalong, and shoots her a Look. ]

Tag, turn that off.

[ One slimy flipper smudges the lens, and then the feed ends. ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

when winter hits, i know you're not going to want to go anywhere. it's either months here or months somewhere else.

i'd rather stay here.

We have done all we need to do, here. Better to push on before we get stuck, and prepare for the next battle.

why? are we on a schedule or something?

I dislike sitting around with no purpose.

so you're not even going to consider staying here for the winter

I have not considered it.

...

But you have.

[ The switch to video is rather sudden, but this is really too much for Cliff to type. He looks a little angry, and a little... hurt, frankly. ]

Of course I have! There's someone I care about here, and maybe it's my own damn fault for taking so long to realize it, but I don't want to leave her yet!

But I don't want to leave you alone either. I don't want to just go somewhere and have you hole up for the winter and then I've gotta choose between staying with you or goin' to her. I can't do that, Ironhide.

[Ironhide just... keeps his expression neutral. He's had a long time to practice this.]

[... at least his hands aren't in view -- his fists would have given everything away.]

Then stay.

Stay with her, then. Do as you wish. That... Find me when you are ready to move on.

... Not as if I have anywhere else to be.

[What are emotions like this. How do you deal with them? Nothing like this had ever happened to him before. He can't explain this.]

What is your problem? Why can't you just-- [ Stay? Be happy for me? He's not sure how he wants to end that, so he drops it.

As quickly as it came, that flash of anger vanishes, and he goes uncharacteristically quiet ]

Are you going to leave without me?

It is nothing!

[If he knew, he would say so.]

[... but he doesn't. He doesn't have the words to explain why to himself. Let alone...]

You wish to stay. I want to press on.

What other option is there, hmn?

It's not nothing. If it was nothing, you wouldn't be acting like this.

[ What other option indeed. That... hurts, and it's plain on his face. He's not even going to bother to hide it- Ironhide is his friend. His partner. That hasn't changed. Cliff has nothing to hide from him. ]

I... see.

I'm sorry.

It... is nothing.

[He'll repeat that until he's blue in the face. Because it felt like a betrayal, and he knows that's not the case. He knows it's foolish. He knows he can't say that.]

[If he says anything, it's going to slip out.]

Not asking for an apology.

[ There's a slight lifting of his shoulders that could be a shrug, but his heart just isn't in it. ]

I feel like I owe you one anyway. [ Why else would Ironhide be leaving? ]

Guess I'll see you around, partner.

An apology... just. Leave it.

[He just lowers the 'gear. For a nice shot of the zipper on his coat.]

Yeah.

Guess so.

[ What else is there to say? He just stares at the 'gear for a very long moment, out of some small hope that Ironhide will change his mind and say he's going to stay.

When that doesn't happen, Cliffjumper simply turns the 'gear off. ]

eleventh ; Video/Action for Olivine ; somebody call 911

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