014 // video/action for Goldenrod

[futariniousama]

[ Hey, check this out. It's the inside of Goldenrod Gym! Bet you haven't seen that a thousand times, huh?

A line of text overlays the scene. ]

THIS SHOULD BE GOOD.

[ People familiar with Niou might recognize his Porygon's text, and should definitely recognize the boy himself ambling onto the gym floor. Whitney certainly does. ]

Hey, it's you

Comments

action;

[usedlaserbeam]

[Some might say Yagyuu is taking his life into his own hands, returning to the Goldenrod Gym so soon after the crushing humiliation he'd handed Whitney during his own turn at the gym, but with the prospect of watching Niou's rematch on the line, wild horses (or perhaps, irate gym leaders) couldn't have kept him away.

And while this sort of swift, brutal defeat is always gratifying (as his mind naturally supplies scores to correspond to each match--6-0, 6-0, 6-0), he does have to admit that the pair on the floor have a point. It's not a good match, not in the sense of two worthy competitors going head to head with victory on the line. All things considered, it's hardly even worthy revenge.

After all, Niou didn't even take time out to play with his prey.

He avoids Whitney when the match is over, keeping a wide berth in the interest of circumventing any more outbursts, and tracks down his partner with Lady trotting haughtily at his heels.]

Congratulations, Niou-kun.

action;

[futariniousama]

[ Niou's not nearly as satisfied as he let Whitney believe he was. With his back to the girl, his smug expression has lapsed into impassiveness. Crushing her was fulfilling in its own right, but he knows he didn't make much of a showing. Something in his partner's tone serves to confirm it. ]

You were better.

[ He glances sidelong at Yagyuu, automatically adjusting to match his stride. ]

action;

[usedlaserbeam]

[It's automatic how his mind substitutes more vicious for better in that sentence, but there's no denying that it's true. Of course, they've always known that deep down, he's the more ruthless of the two of them-and more importantly, he didn't have a previous defeat to face down and overcome while he did it.

But maybe it didn't need to be vengeance this time. Maybe this time, Whitney is best left just as she was here-a meaningless obstacle to overwhelm in pursuit of greater heights.]

But less efficient. Sometimes victories are just the given result when the opponent isn't a worthy challenge; finishing those quickly is to be expected.

action;

[futariniousama]

Efficiency is boring. [ Niou turns his gaze forward again, somewhat mollified by Yagyuu's answer. His counterargument is only cursory. ]

Bet you had more fun with yours, huh?

[ Whether he's implying that the match itself was more entertaining, or that Yagyuu is more schadenfreudian than Niou is, both are probably true. ]

[action]

[restardom]

[ there are a few reasons why Rise is somewhat hesitant to enter the Gym for this particular match.

The main reason is because she and Whitney have the affinity of water and oil, only ten times snappier. But she thinks back to it, how she'd met Niou, and out of deference to that and to the fact that he is her friend, she shows up.

And she's waiting by the door when he finishes up. ]

[action]

[futariniousama]

[ If he'd been less preoccupied, less bothered by the sensation of an empty victory, he'd have spotted her sooner. As it happens, he doesn't look up until he's eight feet away, and he's sure she catches his surprised expression before he manages to quell it.

He's been torn between believing he ruined things and hoping he didn't ever since he told her about Yagyuu. He didn't expect her here, to say the least, but he's happy she is. ]

... Hey, you.

[action]

[restardom]

[ there's no marked hesitation in her response, though inwardly is another story. Rise had always managed to pick up on the friend route without ever having come as close to being otherwise-- until this one. She's still a little uncertain, but she offers him a warm smile anyway. ]

Hey, yourself. You made it out in one piece, huh?

[action]

[futariniousama]

Better than last time, I guess.

[ It's too easy, really, to flash back to the last time he walked out of here - Rise's pretty face on the 'Gear, the way she made him laugh, despite his stormy mood. It feels like forever ago, but she does it again now. He's almost smiling, even though he was sullen a second ago. Miracles never cease with her. ]

[video]

[loseyoursenses]

Much better this time, Niou. [And Yukimura is smiling slightly, pleased.] But of course, I would expect nothing less.

[video]

[futariniousama]

Yeah, yeah.... [ Niou can't decide whether to take the compliment or object. He knows he could have done better. ]

[video]

[loseyoursenses]

I've been considering challenging the gym myself. Between you and Yagyuu, she ought to know what to expect from our team by now.

[video]

[futariniousama]

I'm sure you'll continue the winnin' streak, too. Think you're ready for her?

[video]

[guitarnero]

[ He's seen a fair share of Whitney battles over the course of the three weeks he's been here. He's aware now that she breaks out the waterworks like a busted fountain every time she gets beaten; that's not what provokes his unimpressed expression. It's the brutality of the act, the arrogance of it, the younger boy's forced casualness like he's wallowing in his win like a pig in shit. It's possible that he's just projecting because of the physical similarity between them, but it rubs him the wrong way. ]

Pathetic.

[video]

[futariniousama]

[ Niou knows full well it was a poor showing, and it wasn't half as satisfying as he wanted it to be. All the same, he's not ready to give that up so easily to the new kid.

He puts on a mock-pouting face. ]

C'mon, now, you can't be that hard on her. The poor girl was just outleveled.

[video]

[guitarnero]

Outleveled, but not outclassed, I guess. Feel like a big man, now?

[ Seriously Niou, REAL MEN DON'T ENJOY WATCHING GIRLS CRY. ]

[video]

[futariniousama]

Not really, no. Why, is this your idea of machismo?

[ He lets the pout slide into impregnable amusement to shield the defensiveness he's feeling. ]

[text]

[sfaccendato]

You know, I don't think you get to gloat quite that much when you win due to being overleveled.

[text]

[futariniousama]

thats like saying i dont get 2 gloat when i beat hyoutei players due 2 being way fucking better than them
doooooesnt work that way ♥