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(no subject)

Who: Mondo Oowada (

diamondo), Kiyotaka Ishimaru (

ardent), and Makoto Naegi (

superordinary)
Where: Goldenrod City
When: 5/6
Summary: Naegi finally makes it to Goldenrod and reunites with Ishimaru and Mondo. Discussions follow.
Rating: PG-13 for Mondo's foul mouth
Log:
[It was hard to believe they'd been here for two weeks. It was equally hard to believe that Naegi had walked for two weeks just to meet up with them. Mondo still wasn't able to accept the latter, but he was more than happy to meet up with Naegi again. As much as he hated to admit it, he'd kind of missed his classmates - even if he didn't really know them all that well. Naegi was here now though, and Mondo was eager to get going already. They're meeting up with Naegi for lunch, and probably to discuss what's been going on here in Johto and back at Hope's Peak, but Mondo can't say he really cares all that much. It'll just be good to see his classmate again.]

C'mon, hurry up already!

[He's already by the door and clearly impatient as hell, but he's still waiting for Ishimaru by the door. There's no sense in leaving without Ishimaru, and it's not like Mondo wants to be early for their meeting and look over-eager for it or anything. Totally not cool. ...Then again, he is showing up with Ishimaru, which means if they're not early they're doing something wrong, so...]

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[Ishimaru is honestly just as eager for this as Mondo is, given that it's been two weeks of nothing but fretting and awful pickpocketing attempts on his end, and so help him if you tell Naegi-kun about that he will -

...

be very upset with you, that's what.

Yeah.

But for the time being, however, he's back in that white uniform; the thing is completely pristine, as usual, though he's seeming a bit too stiff in general and really, it's not surprising that Mondo is impatient, given that Ishimaru had checked his pockets about a million times just to verify that he wasn't forgetting anything. Not that he had terribly much on him to forget in the first place, but still...

He still hasn't quite gotten over the novelty factor of being allowed to just leave the building at any time he may want to do so; he'd been in Hope's Peak for such a short amount of time, in the scheme of things, but it'd gotten to him more than he cared to admit. Just the same, he checks his watch at Mondo's words before shooting him a look that's somewhere between amused and mildly exasperated.]

Said as though I would allow us to be late in the first place!

[...well, it looks like Naegi's going to be dealing with Mondo being an overeager puppy and Ishimaru trying to act like his nerves aren't jangling - which is decidedly more difficult to pull off than it normally is (not like it's easy to pull off normally) given that he's walking so briskly that he's practically dragging Mondo there in extremely short order, and he's being very talkative on the way.]

As it stands, aniki, Naegi-kun knows that we're here, and I'm guessing that he knows by now that I won't tolerate any of us being late; I'll let him hear about it if he is -

[...Yeah. Prayer circle for Naegi. Prayer circle.]

[ Naegi is equally eager but he can't seem to shrug off how surreal all of this felt just yet. He saw the machine spit out that tub of butter after the second execution (thinking about it nauseates him, and he mentally makes note not to eat anything with butter in Mondo's presence) and he remembers discovering Ishimaru's cold, lifeless body and having to examine it up close; the head wound inflicted by the hammer, and the way the dried blood clung to his hair.

Those were all things Naegi could never, ever forget. But here they were, both of them alive and out of that hellhole of a school. Monobear couldn't touch them here. They were safe and out of harm's way, and he was going to meet them again today.

Which is why he's not only at the restaurant in time, he's there almost fifteen minutes early. He paces back and forth near the entrance, gathering his thoughts while he waits. ]

[As it turns out, Naegi is there before them (which will probably frustrate Ishimaru, which will be hilarious) and Mondo approaches the other student easily.]

Yo, Naegi! It's good to see you!

[He's probably grinning a bit too hard and looking a bit too relieved, but he can't really say he cares. At least Naegi didn't get eaten by a bear.

...Yes, this was a valid concern, shut up.]

[Well, as frustrating as that may actually be, Ishimaru has other priorities, the first of which apparently being storming up to Naegi like gangbusters and stopping just a bit too close to be comfortable, asking absolutely no permission whatsoever before breaking any personal bubbles all over the sidewalk.]

Ah, Naegi-kun! I didn't expect that you would be here so early - an oversight on my part, clearly!! It won't happen again; I'm well up to the challenge you've presented, and next time I'll be here more than early enough to meet you!!

[He's grinning when he says it, however; really, he doesn't seem able to stop with the grinning, and he laughs before he continues, his words coming out in a rush, as though the fate of the world relies on him getting them all out in one breath.]

I've been awaiting your arrival, and I trust that you've been taking care of yourself - I would ask that you let me verify this myself, but that can wait for later!!

[At least he's not flat-out demanding that Naegi go somewhere so they can continue this socialization experience without clothes on, but it's close enough, really; just the same, there's an incredibly stilted moment where he seems tempted to hug Naegi or kind of...grab him or something...only there are far too many places to put his hands and what am physical contact can it be eaten, and he suddenly thinks better of it in favor of just kind of clapping both his hands down on Naegi's shoulders and holding him at arm's distance because nothing about this is awkward at all.]

It's good to see you again, Naegi-kun, and we appreciate you not getting eaten by a bear along the way!!

[...they may have discussed this at one point.]

Hello, Oowada-kun! It's good to see you, too. [ Seeing him as a living, breathing person and not a tub of butter that's about to get slathered over a stack of pancakes is an immense relief, really, but it's still weird because this normally only happens in works of fiction. ]

And you too, Ishimaru-kun...

[ Naegi blinks up him during that stilted moment, wondering what the hell he's about to do. It's a little awkward, but at the same time the physical contact serves as as a sort of confirmation that that yes, this is really Ishimaru and he's really there and not some sort of illusion. This is the real deal, all right, and he's still the same social failure as always. ]

Um, thank you? I haven't seen any bears around, though.

[ If he had, he could've just caught it. Honestly, he'd be more worried about things that are way worse than bears. Like the abnormally large bees that could puncture one's internal organs with one forceful poke to the stomach. Why can't you have normal sized insects, Johto. ]

[Oh come on, Naegi! Bears are obviously more dangerous than bees-- why are we having this discussion?]

Well that's good to hear! I mean, it would've sucked to lose you before we even got to meet up!

[But standing around out here and chatting about bears isn't what they're here for, and Mondo knows it. They're obviously here for lunch!!]

C'mon, let's head inside. I'm fucking starving!

[Well, that would depend on the size of the bears vs the size of the bees, wouldn't it? I mean, we're talking organ-puncturing insects here, and if the bears are anything like Ishimaru's amazing one-foot monkeyball then we're -

...we're not going to have this argument even on a meta level, that's what we're going to do. For the time being, you can have another of those vaguely exasperated expressions from Ishimaru, but he still isn't quite curbing the joy here.

Nor is he letting go of Naegi's shoulders just yet. Just. Gonna stand around doing that for a moment.]

Yes, yes, of course, aniki - and I expect we'll hear everything about your trip here once we're inside, Naegi-kun? We haven't been outside the city yet; I want to know what you've seen out there!

[...]

...Ah.

[And there go the hands back down to his sides; no harm done, surely!

...orz]

[ But the bees are the size of a child and also attack in swarms while bears are solitary animals okay let's not go there. ]

You will. I'm sure the three of us have a lot of things to discuss, but let's get lunch first things first. I'm getting hungry.

[ Having said that, he steps inside the restaurant. Looks like there aren't a lot of customers around right now, which is probably a good thing since the combined volume of Ishimaru and Mondo probably would earn them annoyed looks. ]

[Annoyed looks at the very least, if not getting thrown out. Not that this has happened before, nope.

Anyway, they're led to a booth near the back and Mondo takes a seat, absently glancing through the menu while getting back to the conversation at hand.]

So what are the routes like? It looks like you had to travel a long way to get here. How're you holding up?

[Naegi looks fine, but those certainly looked like some really long routes.]

I feel a little worn out. I'm not used to walking distances that long, honestly... [ He has a few blisters here and there, but let's not talk about those. ]

The roads aren't even paved and there's tall grass with wild Pokémon just about everywhere.

What?

[Well, now you have Ishimaru's attention because well that's just completely unacceptable, isn't it.]

And no one has seen fit to do anything about this?! Others have been here for years, and all have traveled these roads at some point - that's an obvious hazard, why has no one at least gone to assess the conditions of these things?!

[...some things literally never change.]

There are no roads at all? Where the fuck am I supposed to ride?

[#priorities]

Shit, I can't believe you walked all that way. There's gotta be some kinda creature here that can carry you, right? Or what about transportation? Cars and shit?

I looked around but I couldn't find any mode of transport between the cities at all. No buses, no taxis... [ How this world even functions is beyond him, seriously. ]

There are Pokémon large enough to carry a person, but I don't have any yet. Mine are all too small.

[Aniki where the hell are you even suggesting you're going to get a bike - ]

So they have an advanced train system here, but no cars.

[...]

Ah, right. We've been in this city for the past two weeks and we've taken the time to investigate it, as doing otherwise would be a waste! There's a train station of some sort that supposedly takes us to another region nearby; it isn't primitive by any means, either. That's the only mode of transportation I've seen, though.

[Oh come on, surely there's a bike shop somewhere around here!!]

Yeah, that doesn't make any fucking sense! What kinda place doesn't even have fucking cars?

[Ugh, well whatever, at least there are Pokémon that can serve as transportation.]

So what kinda Pokémon do you have with you, Naegi?

[Let's just... drop the subject then!!]

[ Naegi takes out his Pokédex to show Ishimaru and Mondo what each species looks like as he lists their names, in case they're unfamiliar to them (which they most likely are because there are way too many different Pokémon out there). ]

Togepi, my starter... Furret, Butterfree, Deerling, and Growlithe... and an Audino.

[Ishimaru will just be leaning against the table once that 'Dex comes out - clearly, he's somewhere between completely fascinated by this and trying to memorize everything that's being thrown at him.

There is one thing he notices, however, rather plainly.]

Ah, that's all very...

[...very...well.]

You have a very adorable arsenal, Naegi-kun!

[Mondo laughs at Ishimaru's words; they're quite true. Naegi does have quite the adorable team assembled.]

Where'd you get the dog? I'd like to get one of those!

[...Because clearly Mondo needs a Growlithe in his life.]

It looks like you've been collecting quite a few of 'em, huh? Gotta catch 'em all and all that, right?

[...you're familiar with Pokémon, right Naegi? You're not a shut-in like Ishimaru, right?]

Thanks, Ishimaru-kun. The Breeding Center offers one free Pokémon to new arrivals, so I got him as an egg from there. [ Yeah. Eggs. Something in the tone of his voice is saying "I have no clue about that one". ]

I'm planning on getting more eventually, but I don't think I'm going to catch them all since I have to give each Pokémon the care they need. This isn't just a game anymore, after all.

I was told about that early on, actually - I've obtained one as well, though I...

[genuinely think I may have broken it]

...haven't been successful in hatching it just yet.

[However, the mention of this being "not just a game anymore" does seem to have had an effect on him, the general levity of the conversation aside; he tenses up a bit, then makes himself continue. There isn't...much of a way to lead into this and he really doesn't want to; that's probably why he's actually going to be slightly less blunt than a sack of bricks to the face in getting into it.]

Though it might not be a game anymore, we do have certain assignments, right? You're a...Trainer, Naegi-kun?

I'm a Breeder, actually. Though I haven't bred my Pokémon yet... What about you two? You're Trainers, right?

[Ishimaru flinches a bit at that question, pressing back in his seat defensively; he closes his eyes to calm himself before he shakes his head, the gesture tight.

He looks at Mondo pointedly after that; he is not explaining this, if he has any say in it.]

[Mondo takes note of Ishimaru's discomfort and frowns slightly. Of course Ishimaru shouldn't be proud of their affiliation with a criminal organization, but he doesn't need to be so bothered by it either. They're doing this for the greater good, after all!]

No, we're not. It'd be nice if we were, but we arrived here in Goldenrod instead of in New Bark Town.

[He leans forward and places his elbows on the table, propping his chin on a hand. Mondo manages to get his voice into a more normal range so as not to draw suspicion to them. It's a bit easier said than done, but he's trying.]

We arrived as members of Team Rocket. If you're familiar with the game or the show or what-the-fuck-ever then you know that we're the bad guys. Ishimaru and I aren't in it of our own choosing, and if shit gets bad, we'll leave. We're allowed to do that, but if we do, we're thrown in jail. Still, jail's better than being in danger.

[He shifts a bit, uncomfortable. He knows he can trust Naegi with this, but the idea of speaking so openly about it bothers him.]

We're working to bring it down from within, that's why we're still here instead of in jail. It's gonna take time and effort, but together we can do it!

[...]

Oh, and uh, keep all this quiet, will you?

S-shit...

[ Naegi's eyes go wide as Mondo tells him all this, and he shifts uncomfortably in his seat as he takes in the enormity of this information. This isn't good, this isn't fair and he looks genuinely sorry to hear this because neither of the two deserve it. ]

I think I understand, Oowada-kun... [ He's clenching his fist under the table. They deserve better than this, he thinks. They deserve a happier second chance at life. They shouldn't have to do this. ]

Thanks for being honest. I won't tell a soul, I promise. But please, be careful.

[Ishimaru twitches a bit during the explanation, though he's keeping his gaze fixated on Naegi; he wants to gauge his reaction...well, as best he can, anyway. His social limitations tend to hinder that sort of endeavor, but Naegi is honest with people; that's one of the few things Ishimaru really knows about Naegi for a fact, that he's honest with people, and it's something that Ishimaru can definitely appreciate, especially in situations like this.

However, once he becomes aware that Naegi seems genuinely bothered by this, his demeanor shifts a bit; while he's never believed in hiding his emotions, there's a difference between expressing how he feels and just blatantly not putting up a strong front when he needs to - the latter is deplorable, something he'll likely yell at himself for later when no one is around, but for the time being he straightens up, leaning over the table again to address Naegi a bit more directly, and though he's...barely managing to keep his volume down, he is managing.

Somehow.

That probably won't last long. But he's trying, for the time being. At least the usual confidence is back.]

This will be difficult work, for sure, and we'll need to proceed carefully, but this isn't a hopeless situation; there's a woman I think we can trust - she wants to bring down this hive of villains as well. And I've met a policeman from another world who wants to see justice done as well. Eventually justice will be brought to those who deserve it, Naegi-kun, don't worry!

...and besides, if you think I'll allow my brother to do anything but be careful, then you don't know me very well!