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I'm not going to say it was damage, but it was damage.
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Apr 10, 2024 12:51:43 GMT
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Post by Robot on Jul 28, 2018 2:19:09 GMT
"We were going to challenge your gym today, but then we ran into Polaris about a quarter mile from here." Mica dumped the bag unceremoniously at the woman's feet. "You might want to call the police, make a report or whatever first." Her attention slid slowly to Donovan, expression not showing much of her thoughts or intent. "I didn't look in the pack she dropped yet, but it's probably explosives."
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Post by Breakthelevee on Jul 28, 2018 13:19:50 GMT
"Pretty much what she said" Donovan says quietly "I would like to challenge you once you double check that there hasn't been any tampering with any essential equipment and am able to get my team healed up."
He stood a ways back still, the blood no longer flowing from his face but a long scratch sitting along his cheek is plainly visible. Thinking on it, he nearly squirmed in place. It would be awkward if there was an investigation and they were involved. Since reaching Vesperia he has traveled with a Professor who went missing, and now there have been attacks on both gyms he has arrived at. It would seem more than a coincidence....
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Post by DataNinja on Jul 28, 2018 23:32:58 GMT
"Um, uh, oh..." the woman says, eyes going wide, and taking a quick look in the pack. "Let me just, uh... make a few calls. And put that outside. If you two'd step away, that'd be great..." She makes sure the two have stepped away, before darting through the door and rolling out a heavy metal crate, before gingerly placing the bag and its contents inside. "Not quite the same as dealing with blasting, or Electrodes..." she says, once it's all been secured outside. "How about you go and deal with resting your teams, while I call some people to take care of this, okay?"
"Now that that's that," she says, when the two return about an hour later, and the crate is gone, "I should introduce myself. I'm Macyn, the Leader for this Gym, and I'm sorry that you had to deal with that hoodlum coming here. Hope it doesn't mar the occasion. Is this your first Gym Challenge in Vesperia, or have you tossed your proverbial hats into the ring a few times already?"
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6,670 posts
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I'm not going to say it was damage, but it was damage.
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Apr 10, 2024 12:51:43 GMT
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Post by Robot on Jul 28, 2018 23:42:27 GMT
"It's our second, we beat Enya a little while ago now." Mica affirmed quietly. Dusty still wasn't in the best shape even after a visit to the Pokemon Center, but Apex was right as rain. Mica had refused treatment for her own injuries, she was used to the way cuts stung and burned, she wanted to remember the lessons that Polaris had inflicted on her. There had been little break in her silence with Donovan.
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Post by Breakthelevee on Jul 29, 2018 1:24:57 GMT
Donovan went his separate way from Mica as soon as he handed his Pokemon over to be healed. Instead of healing up himself, he went to a terminal and sent a quick email to the lab, asking for all of the information they had on this 'Polaris' It was a long shot, but asking someone who's lived here longer seemed to be a much better choice.
By the time he finished they were heading back towards the gym, and after a few halted attempts at saying something, he fell silent for the rest of the walk there. He wasn't sure what to say, or even if there was anything to say.
When Macyn asked if they had fought any gyms before, he held up two fingers as Mica spoke and then waited for her to finish before adding on "I'm very interested in seeing how you battle."
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Post by DataNinja on Jul 29, 2018 19:42:25 GMT
"Ah, poor Enya," Macyn chuckles, "she always likes being able to let loose against people near the end of their journeys. Good to know that you already know about badges and all that, though. Saves me some time." She idly tosses a Pokéball back and forth between her hands. "Now, uh, I'm sorry to disappoint you, young man, but, well, you won't actually be battling me. Or battling in a traditional sense at all. Well, I mean, you could, and it might work out, but..." She cuts herself off. "Anyways. The challenge here is simply... get to me. Well, more specifically, each Trainer in the challenge needs to hit a button at the end of the course before three minutes are up. There will be some obstacles that you'll need to find a way past, by whichever way you want. Sound easy enough?"
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Post by Breakthelevee on Jul 31, 2018 5:16:52 GMT
"I mean she still let loose" Donovan says, remembering the relentless assaults of Enyas Pokemon. "It took us a few tries before we won. I'm hoping we've learned enough to not lose this time"
He raised an eyebrow at Macyn "So it's like a maze? or an obstacle course? Are we supposed to stay together or do this on our own?" His questions rapid fire, his attention being more piqued than it had been since the Polaris fight. "Three Minutes." He nods confidently "We can do this. I know it" He reached out to put a hand on Micas shoulder before letting it fall to his side instead, not wanting to risk anything before the gym challenge.
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6,670 posts
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I'm not going to say it was damage, but it was damage.
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Apr 10, 2024 12:51:43 GMT
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Post by Robot on Aug 1, 2018 3:33:44 GMT
Not something we can take the most direct course? Mica was deep in thought when Donovan's hand settled on her, and she stiffened a little. "If it's timed, I'd rather do it on my own." Mica stated quietly. "If Donovan can't trust me to succeed when we're a team, then I'll do it without him." Her eyes built with wet in the corners as she turned. "I don't need another person in my life telling me what I can't do."
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Post by Breakthelevee on Aug 2, 2018 1:09:42 GMT
"Can we not do this in front of someone we just met, please. Let's talk this over" Donovan says to Mica quietly before turning to Macyn "Give us a moment please" He says with a bow before walking a little ways away.
Once he made it around a corner he slouched against a wall before slumping down to the ground with a wince. He really should have taken the time to get healed up at the Center, but he had other things on his mind. He placed his head in his hands and waited for Mica. Either she would come and they could talk, or she could have her solo challenge. Either way, he was here and he wasn't moving for the time being.
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6,670 posts
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I'm not going to say it was damage, but it was damage.
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Apr 10, 2024 12:51:43 GMT
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Post by Robot on Aug 2, 2018 1:21:30 GMT
It was several long moments before Mica finally joined him, though she watched him go with great intensity. "I don't even know where to start!" She fumed. "You doubt me constantly, and try to cram me into that same little corner... THIS CORNER! The girl threw her arms wide. "As everyone else. The people that don't listen. The people that don't think I can do what I put my mind to. Everyone who's ever made fun of me! You spend more time hanging off of me trying to get me to stop, then you do building up your own strengths! Then... THEN! YOU HAVE THE NERVE TO TRY AND CLAIM ME, AND YOU DIDN'T EVEN ASK! DO YOU KNOW HOW INSULTING THAT IS?!" She was getting progressively louder, moving to a more private location is pretty well moot.
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Post by Breakthelevee on Aug 2, 2018 1:36:23 GMT
"I'm sorry" Is the first thing he says "Also I wasn't trying to claim you. If I had said 'My friend' would you be saying I was claiming you?" He says, still sitting down, his head poking from over his knees "But you aren't just my friend. And I didn't know what to call you other than what you are. Mica." He sunk his head back behind his legs as he continued "I stand by it. You've become more to me than a friend but there isn't a word for someone who is the only other person who shares a burden like we do, the only other person who knows theres so much more to something than everyone else sees"
He shot his head up with a glare "But also, excuse me for worrying about you when you do something dangerous! I know you can do amazing things, but you have to realize that you can't do EVERYTHING, at least not yet! I want to make sure you stay safe until you can." His voice was raising, though not to the same level as hers, and his breathing grew heavier "And I've built up my own strengths just fine! Just because they're different than yours doesn't mean they're any less valid!" He stood up, shaking "I may not be physically strong or fast like you, but I have my own kind of strength. You see everything so perfectly but if you can't see that then maybe I was wrong about how close we were after all!"
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6,670 posts
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I'm not going to say it was damage, but it was damage.
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Apr 10, 2024 12:51:43 GMT
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Post by Robot on Aug 2, 2018 9:57:30 GMT
"You're wrong. If I couldn't do everything, I wouldn't be here! If I stopped when I was told, I'd be at my grandparents in Hirmilik. I wouldn't be a trainer, I wouldn't have any friends, Pokemon or otherwise. I'd be normal, uninteresting, and have never gotten to be a Pokemon!" As Mica vented, she spent a lot of time gesturing and pacing. "I've wanted to be a Pokemon since I was old enough to know what one was, and maybe that was fate, but I can't stop, and won't stop. Instead of dragging me back, holding me down, support me a little?!"
Huffing, she worked the back of her wrists into the corners of her eyes. "I know you're strong, but you also let the weight of your problems crush you. Instead of using your successes to build you up, you worry about what-ifs and could-haves, and stare into the face of your failures. And... I've seen the way you look at other girls." She mutters, trailing off. Not usually one for embarrassment, as she came down from her fit Mica folded her arms under her breasts and couldn't bring herself to make eye contact. Her face was red from a mix of emotions.
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Post by Breakthelevee on Aug 3, 2018 3:01:59 GMT
"Do you know what happened when I didn't look at the what ifs and the could haves? I charged recklessly in and people died." Donovan continued to shake, his voice barely more than a whisper as he struggled to get the words out "I've caused two people to die since we started going into Temples, and sure, one of them came back, but that won't happen in the real world. When people die they stay dead and I'm not gonna let anyone else die because of my recklessness!" Tears had finally begun to form in the corners of his eyes, but he quickly wiped them away, before throwing his arms into the air in exasperation
"You've seen how I look at one other girl, not even a real version of her at that. But she just so happened to be the first girl I ever thought I loved. But seeing how I look at someone I loved doesn't mean anything" He scoffed and turned away "Besides, even if you didn't turn into a Pokemon you wouldn't be any of those things. You wouldn't be normal, or uninteresting or boring. You would have worked to find a way to bring people and Pokemon together, or gone on wild adventures, and just been...Mica." He shook his head "You aren't special because you enter the Temples and turn into a Pokemon, because some higher power put us there at just the right time. You're special because you are yourself and you don't let anything get in the way of that."
Turning back around he sighed and held out a hand "I'll work on supporting you, but you have to understand that my version of support will often involve running for help when I think we're outclassed. I'll also work on the running portion of that I guess." He tried to smile as he looked to where her eyes were "You can yell at me more once we've got our second badge."
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6,670 posts
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92 likes
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I'm not going to say it was damage, but it was damage.
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Apr 10, 2024 12:51:43 GMT
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Post by Robot on Aug 3, 2018 10:21:15 GMT
Mica's expression softened and saddened. "Donovan, that wasn't your fault. It will be way worse if Axiom gets her way, and if Esthia had gotten hers. The world isn't shaped singularly by our decisions, even if it might feel that way sometimes." She threw her arms around him, squeezing him up. "They're gone because someone that thinks they deserve more is willing to kill for it, not because we weren't strong enough to stop them. We didn't make that choice, I know it hurts, but this is all we can do for now."
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Post by Breakthelevee on Aug 5, 2018 23:53:37 GMT
Donovan shook his head "It may not be entirely my fault, but I'm not going to shirk accepting my fault in causing them. Even if what someone else wanted to happen was bad, it doesn't mean I shouldn't think things through and approach things calmly. Sometimes us losing a little ground now is worth it in order to save someones life."
He sighed and took a step back from Mica "For all we know Oronis had a way to return Esthia to her right mind, but we distracted him and he never got the chance to do it and then he died, and then so did she. I don't want that to happen again. I want to learn everything I can from the people trapped within the Temples and try and save all of them, even if they've lost their way a little bit from being trapped so long like Madine and the rest of the Fighting types."
"But thats something we can talk about later when we don't have a Gym Leader waiting for us"
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6,670 posts
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92 likes
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I'm not going to say it was damage, but it was damage.
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Apr 10, 2024 12:51:43 GMT
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Post by Robot on Aug 6, 2018 0:44:09 GMT
"Donovan... if taking hostages is a winning strategy for her, Axiom will do it. Every, single time. Every picture you've painted of her is ruthless. How many plates will you give up for a life? I don't want to see anyone die either, but if we don't just put a stop to it, she gets her way and whatever she wants to happen, happens." Mica protested, but quieted as he brought up their current challenge once again. She offered a halfhearted nod, and returned to the brooding silence she'd held on the way here, only now leaning heavily against him.
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Post by DataNinja on Aug 6, 2018 1:29:53 GMT
As the two wander back inside, it seems as if Macyn hasn't moved one bit. Her face isn't betraying whether or not she heard anything, or any opinions thereof, but she asks, in an upbeat tone, "Okay, so, did we get everything sorted out that we need to? Ready to run? Or do we need a bit longer?"
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Post by Breakthelevee on Aug 7, 2018 3:00:41 GMT
Donovan shook his head "Sorry for making you wait, we're ready now"
He raised an eyebrow and tapped his chin "Actually, quick few questions. How many Pokemon are we allowed to use each, or is there not a limit because of the time constraints? Hmm now that I think about it, I'm sure you plan on going over that before we start, sorry" He bows his head as he apologizes and waits for the challenge to begin
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6,670 posts
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92 likes
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I'm not going to say it was damage, but it was damage.
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Apr 10, 2024 12:51:43 GMT
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Post by Robot on Aug 7, 2018 19:29:33 GMT
"We're good. I'll be leading with Morganite." Mica mentioned more to Donovan then Macyn. Dusty wasn't likely to be much use at an obstacle course with his stubby little legs, and most of her Pokemon used the direct course of action to achieve victory. If their experience with Enya was any indication, failing to follow the gym's stipulations was likely to cause them to fail.
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Post by DataNinja on Aug 7, 2018 20:59:25 GMT
"You're allowed to use up to six total between the two of you," Macyn says, "like every Gym here that I can think of off the top of my head. Of course, as you mentioned, you probably won't need to use them all. Or, indeed, perhaps not any. But that might not be the best course of action. Up to you." She pulls a remote out of her pocket, and presses a button to make the large door on the wall begin to slide up. Beyond is a corridor, with fairly close by a door standing in the middle of the hall, with some chain-link fence stretching halfway up on either side. Further along, there appear to be some pillars, but it's hard to see beyond those from here. "Alright, so, I'll give you some time to discuss things, let me know when you're ready to begin. When you hear the buzzer, you can start." She pauses, before saying, "Oh, I almost forgot," in a tone that says she very much didn't. "There's another little complication you have to deal with." She throws the Pokéball she'd been tossing around earlier, releasing what looks like a flying saucer with magnets on it. "You'll have to deal with Maglev coming after you, too. You'll get a ten second head start, so, plan accordingly." She pulls out a stone hanging from a chain around her neck, that begins glowing. "I love this part. It's upgrade time, Maglev." The stone and saucer begin glowing, before the Magnezone changes, looking a whole lot more sinister afterwards, with glowing antennae, extending grasping arms, and red eyes. "So, anyways. Let me know when you're ready." Macyn leans up against the wall, just watching the Trainers.
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