memoryborn | [Video|Action for Goldenrod City]

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[Video|Action for Goldenrod City]

[ The feed starts off shaky and wonky and upside down, but it pays witness to a Scizor smashing in the face of a familiar Miltank with one of his pincers. Whitney's scream of outrage and near bloody murder drowns out the poor Miltank's whimper as it sags to the ground, knocked out with a single hit. The camera rights itself and purposefully zooms in on Whitney's red face - it looks like she's been sobbing for quite a while now. She points an accusing finger at her challenger. ]

I can't believe you! You're evil! Evil fraternal twins bullying me with overpowered Pokemon!

I'm sorry. I know things have been busy with those fossils running around, but as it seems to be over and we've been holding off for a while--

Waaaaaaaaaaaahhh!

Will you stop it?

[The camera turns to the other person in the Gym. Ilya stamps her foot and looks quite firmly irritated. Outraged, in fact.]

What kind of conduct is this? You call yourself a lady? You're a disgrace!

Illya, we don't need to aggravate her any further--

Meanies! Evil, the both of you! Here! Take your stupid badge!

[ Despite the huge display of shaking and crying Whitney is showing, she manages to chuck the tiny badge over Xion's Scizor and smack the thing squarely against Xion's forehead. She continues to cry, but this act prompts a roar from the holder of the Gear (which sounds much like a Hydreigon's roar) and her Scizor's wings to furiously flutter. ]

Ow!

Xion! Are you hurt?

[Ilya reaches up to check on Xion's forehead, and after a couple moments of satisfying herself that she's not bleeding from one of the pointy ends, turns back to Whitney.]

How dare you! I have a mind to... to...

[She seems to fail at figuring out what exactly she intends to do to Whitney, just standing there with her fists clenched and her eyes narrowed. At her side, a looming Dusclops glares with its one red eye.]

It's fine, Illya! It's nothing. [ As she says this, she's pulling on her hood to hide the little mark while bending down to pick up her badge. ] Let's go... Wait. Tiamat? Wait!

[ The feed is suddenly flying towards and behind Whitney. There's a Hydreigon head seen before it opens a mouth and bites down on poor girl's butt.

The shriek is almost ear shattering. ]

Eeeeeek! Owowowowowow! [ She swats angrily at the Hydreigon, who flies high up and stares down with the Gear. Then she gasps, looking back up at Tiamat then at Xion. ] It's you! You again?! You're the trainer whose Deino bit me in the butt!

I apologized!

[Ilya is desperately trying to reign in her laughter, but it's not... really working all that well. Meanwhile, her Dusclops is opening its mouth...

Oops, there's a second ear piercing scream.]

Ow ow ow! Orpheus, that was not a challenge to a screaming competition!

Illya, let's just go! We might get arrested at this rate!

[ Tug, tug. Everyone's just screaming and crying and yelling... while Tiamat just laughs her dark Hydreigon laugh above. ]

But I still don't have my badge...

[She does, however, reluctantly allow herself to get pulled away.]

Orpheus! Hepheastus! Come!

[With a roar and a groan, the Aggron and the Dusclops obediently begin following their trainer away from the increasingly frantic gym leader.]

Tiamat! --And please stop recording!

[ Xion realizes belatedly. At the call, Tiamat swoops over while obeying orders and cutting the feed after that. ]

[ Audio that happens half an our later: ]

Whitney's still the same. [ No kidding. Beat. ] If anyone plans to challenge her sometime soon, um... please be careful.

[ And then another audio message filtered to Minato and the Ninja Team: ]

I hope you guys have been okay from the fossil Pokemon attack. I think I'm going to travel with Illya for a bit. She wanted to visit Ecruteak for some information. If you guys need help, though, we could both travel back to you guys whenever we can.

And... sorry I've been quiet. A lot of things have been happening. Stay safe.

[ ooc: Badges approved for both! Whitney and Illya. ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

That's it... Twins, huh? Do we really look that much alike?

[She looks Xion up and down, a bit confused.]

I mean... our hair and eyes are opposites, so I wouldn't think so.

[ Xion also gives her a scan, but shrugs and shakes her head. ]

I don't know what "fraternal" means, but... She was getting emotional. I think she was willing to say anything at that point.

It just means non-identical. Which is definitely true, but I'm not sure how you'd figure we're related to begin with.

Maybe it's how we act?

We act?

[ That does pique her curiosity. Outside of battle, she's pretty sure Whitney hasn't seen them interacting much with each other. And Illya is more... bubbly than Xion, in her eyes. ]

Well, you spent most of that fight trying to keep me from lunging at her, and the way we worried over each other... Maybe we gave her the wrong idea?

She has the wrong idea that we're related... But yeah.

[ Blows a puff of air at her bangs and rubs at her forehead. ]

At least we're done with her, right? Next is Morty, and he's a lot calmer.

Mmmm, right. According to a friend I talked to about it once, the only other trainer who's as... irritating as her is Miss Clair in Blackthorn. So we shouldn't have to deal with that sort of thing again for a while.

... You really don't mind going to Ecruteak next, do you? I know you were enjoying yourself with those ninjas.

Of course not. You said you wanted to explore more, so I figured I should help you out. We could always fly back to them when we're done.

[ Xion doesn't see how this could be a bother. Sure, she'll miss being with them in person, but there's always the Gear. ]

Thank you, Xion. I'd go on my own if I had to, but it's... nice, to have you with me.

[It makes her feel more comfortable, somehow.]

[ She gives a soft smile at that. ]

Same with you. You're welcome.

[She just smiles and sits with Xion for a while.

Eventually, though, she speaks up again.]

So... what should we do now? I don't think we should go back to the Centre and deal with Saber just yet...

We should both have our Pokemon checked into the Center. Whitney didn't do much damage to our Pokemon, but it still wouldn't hurt.

That's a good idea. Hephaestus could use a good rest, at least, after taking a rolling Miltank to the face like that.

[Hopping off the bench, she offers Xion her hand.] Let's go!

[ She easily takes Illya's hand and allows her to lead the way, as usual. Tiamat and Blitz follow along after her. Unlike the last time they held hands like this, though, Xion's a lot quieter. Has been reticent for a while, actually. ]

[And it's impossible for her not to notice, really. The longer they walk, the more it starts hanging over them, like a dark cloud over what should be a happy mood.

Eventually, she just can't stand it anymore.]

Hey, Xion... You've been acting strange for a couple weeks now. What's wrong?

[ That snaps her out of looking at the ground long enough to glance at Illya with a start. ]

Er, I have? [ Even her voice is oddly detached, still moving away from burdening thoughts. ]

You really haven't noticed? [She raises an eyebrow in plain disbelief.]

You've been quiet, and kept to yourself... more than usual, I mean. I've hardly had a decent conversation with you since our trip to the department store.

Honestly, it's been... worrying. [Her expression softens a bit, and she gives Xion a very concerned look.] Like something really bad happened, but you don't want me to know about it for some reason.

[ When Illya looks back, her eyes glance to the side, almost ashamed. How to say this... she really didn't realize her mood had changed considerably since-- ]

It's not like something bad happened. It's just... A lot's on my mind lately. We did just survive fossil Pokemon attacking us.

It started before then!

[It comes out in a snap, and she immediately regrets the outburst. Biting her lip, she lowers her eyes a bit, now embarrassed.]

Look, if you don't think you can talk to me about it, tell me that. But don't make up excuses, alright?

[ The slight outburst startles her enough that she pulls her hand back on instinct. Tiamat and Blitz look on in tense worry, and even Xion looks a bit dismayed. She didn't think Illya would pay that much attention to her changing mood.

She sighs. ] It isn't an excuse - I just didn't have a proper time to think about it. But, I understand.

[She lets Xion's hand slide out of her own without resistance, her eyes still aimed somewhere around their feet until Xion tries to explain. Lifting them again to look her in the face, she bites her lip for a moment before answering, determined not to let her temper get the better of her again.]

If you understand that I'm worried about you, that's fine. Just... be more thoughtful next time, alright? I do notice these things, and if you're upset, I want to help if I can. I mean, I like you, after all.

[ Xion's sometimes just too thoughtful - she just happens to not focus on certain things, ironically. She blinks at the "like" bit. ]

I... like you, too. But because I like you, I have to ask you to not worry over me so much. It's just something I have to think more on.

That's not easy. But I guess, if it's really the best thing I can do for you, I can at least try.

[The last thing she wants is to just go along with it all like nothing's wrong, but she knows if she tries to force the issue Xion'll just clam up more. Her shoulders slump a little, but she does keep her eyes on Xion's face.]

Just... remember you can trust me, okay? I'll be your friend no matter what you tell me.

[ At that, she finally gives a small smile. ]

I appreciate it, Illya. Really. Maybe another time I'll talk about it.

[ She just didn't want to raise false alarm flags, even though another part of her screamed she had every right to. Still, Xemnas acted so cordial... is this what he would've been like with a heart? Or was it all another... lie?

Her jaw tightens at the thought, but she manages to make her smile not look strained. ]

Come on, we still need to get to the Center.

Yeah, alright. Let's go.

[She doesn't hold out her hand this time, but she keeps it hanging down and out, as if in tacit invitation if Xion wants to retake it.]

Oh, one other thing. After we're done at the Center, there's something I'd like to do. It'll only take a bit, we'll just have to go to the Department Store, but I'll need your help?

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