pokeboy | 03 video

[ video ]

[ Nothing interesting on the video feed here, just a black-haired boy with his pikachu's head poking from the bottom of the screen. ]

Hi, my name's Red. I've got a couple of questions... I wanted to ask about first aid and the battle dome, and also if there's anybody that knows about fixing things? [ He looks away ] I don't have anything broken, but I wanted to have something looked at.

[ Right, anyway. Back to the screen. ]

But with the first aid... I was wondering if anyone had the time to help me see if I know what I'm doing? I got taught how to put on bandages a long time ago, but I don't think I was doing it right the last time I did it.

[ Maybe it had been fine, but a refresher would be good either way. ]

Anyway, then the battle dome - I wanted to know about what fighters train against in there. [ This was going to be hard, but ] I know people here have different abilities, and what we can handle is different too. I've tried creatures not from my world, but I guess...

[ What does he guess? He thinks, pinching his bottom lip in. ]

...I guess I just want to know if there's something better me and my pokémon can do. Everything's still challenging in the battle dome, but I want -- more? [ Um.

That sounds... bad? He fidgets, then shrugs. ] I don't know. I thought it'd be interesting to know what else we could fight on there. That's about it really.

Well... that's it. Bye.

--

[ Private voice to Caius (

accepted) ]

Hey, Caius. [ He pauses, trying to think of how to continue... ] You fight with a sword, right? I want to practice with you sometime, if you've got the time.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ How long has it been since he and Silver had that conversation about his Red? His world's Red - the one that he, Gold, and Crystal knew? He had spoken about getting the chance to battle him one day, and even acting - acting being the key word - confident about his abilities in the future to one day even crush them all (in a nicer way of putting it).

Red doesn't think about that conversation standing there. First he stares at his opponent and the way that he looks similar but not, hearing Gold speak but not looking at him. Red, this supposedly strong battler better than even Gold and Silver.

And he hasn't forgotten his and Gold's battle. He's gotten better from that day, much better, but does he believe he's anywhere close to matching those two yet?

He does finally look over to Gold, with a frustrated look upon him. ]

Why? [ He feels - and sounds - angry, waving a hand towards the other Red's direction. ] Why him? Is this funny to you?

Not at all. [The expression on his face is wholly serious.]

You wanted a chance to battle my champion, didn't you? And I know you've been training extra hard. So let's see what you got, hmm? Let's see how far your training's taken you, and how much farther you need to go still.

[his gaze drifts from Red, to the other Red.]

I could have thrown anybody at you, y'know? Some Jr. Trainer, a Gym Leader... But that's not good enough. Not for you.

[ Should it be a compliment, that last part? But it doesn't feel like it. Ever since coming to this place, even for the small matches that he has won, they didn't make him feel particularly good, and those defeats have been even more crushing for him.

Everyone is just that much farther than him. Not just the pokémon trainers. Why pit him against someone like this? ]

I'm not going to win. [ It's bittering to say. Losing shouldn't matter so much, but it does. And not only that- ] You didn't even think I knew the difference between training my pokémon against wild pokémon and trainers.

[ So what does Gold know about his training? Why's he even trying to sound like he's holding him in some -- high regard? ]

And? So what if you lose? It's not the end of the world. If you lose, then you can learn. [He says this very pointedly.]

[ UgggghhhhHHH. ]

You don't get it! Whatever, fine! Let's do it your stupid way!

[He doesn't commence the simulation, oh no. Instead, he hits the pause button on the console, and just like that, the simulation comes to a halt. Everything's still there, but it's still as glass now. No sounds, no movement, nothing.]

Don't get what?

[ Red wasn't expecting it, but it doesn't make him pleased. It's all still there, and his feelings - his jumbled, mixed up feelings - as well. He's quiet as first, but-- ]

What do you think? You think it doesn't matter because I'm not him? You think it won't matter if I lose because I'll learn something from it? Because I can just keep trying again and again?!

[ A fist clenches. There's words that should come next but Red doesn't know what they are, and it just aids in making him more frustrated. He shakes his head. ]

It does! It just does!

Man... You've really developed some kind of crazy complex over this. [Gold's unshaken by Red's reaction. To be honest, it's a reaction he kind of expected from him.]

Lemme put one thing straight to you before you go off the deep end. I don't give a Rattata's ass that you're not him. You're not supposed to be him. I don't want you to be him! [Okay, so maybe not completely unshaken.] Didn't you think it was weird I refused to tell you anything about him?! 'Cause as far as I'm concerned, you're two different dudes!

I know I'm not your Red, and I don't care about your Red!

[ He doesn't get it, he doesn't get it -- and Gold acting like he does, it does nothing but upset Red further.

He takes a step back. ]

If I cared, I could've asked anyone! I could've asked Silver! [ He waves a hand out in frustration. ] So stop acting like you get it!

[He could get mad at Red, and just let this escalate further. If he was younger, that's exactly what he would have done.]

...You're right. I don't get it. So explain it to me. Tell me what your beef is. I'll listen.

[He's not that little kid who gets into fights with everyone anymore.]

Why?

[ The response is near-instant, though it isn't snappish. Though Red still borders close to that temper. ]

It doesn't matter if you get it. [ ... ] Just don't think I'm trying to be some guy I don't even know.

'Cause it matters to you, that's why. That's why I wanna know.

I don't wanna talk about it.

Geez, you complain when people don't get what's buggin' you, and yet you won't tell anyone what the problem is.

No, I complain when people think they're so smart and get things they don't, and you're doing that right now!

[ He's had enough of this. He walks forward some steps, motioning an arm out towards the door. ] Just go, Gold! I don't want you to know what I'm thinking, and I don't care if you want to know either!

Tch... Fine! [He slams his fist down on the console. The simulation glitches out for a moment, before outright shutting down, returning the room to its former blank self.]

I'm tryin' to help you out here, but there's no point to tryin' to do anything for someone as stubborn as you! So whatever, have it your way then! [He turns about face and storms out the door.]

F...Fine! [ By the time Red gets to the point of shouting back, Gold's already left the room, and his voice weakens the word next to his previous incensed emotions.

He kicks the ground, fists still balled up and his brow still pressed in, and he ends up muttering a grievance to himself before ending up down onto the floor. Stupid Gold. Stupid Luceti, stupid drafts - stupid everything!

It shouldn't even matter -- and it doesn't. But that doesn't mean Red isn't going to sulk there for a while, even with the company of his pokémon around him. ]

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