o1. voice

[lotsofhart]

[VOICE: 2:17AM]

[A scratchy, very tired-sounding voice comes on over the warp band.]

So. Should I be concerned that there's a Magnamite staring at me from my window? Seems like something I should be concerned about. It's kinda creepy. Have some decency.

[Pause.]

Oh. And the Grimers running down my street. That's kind of alarming. What just happened?

[The transmission cuts out abruptly.]


[VOICE: 4:43AM]

Earthquake. Aftershocks. Real pleasant, not. I assume they'll probably stop in a few hours. Some of my stuff got broken, which is frustrating. Anybody hurt? I hope not. I'm not really the kind of person that can help, but uh. If you need anything repaired, let me know? I usually charge, but this is kind of ridiculous, plus I'm not a jerk. Parts might take a bit, though. The iron shortage's been a pain, and it's probably gonna get worse with the state of emergency call. They'll look for any excuse to scalp you lately.


[[When responding, let me know which time stamp you're responding to.]

Comments

[lotsofhart]

I didn't say it.

[Juuuuuust going to let that hang there.

She's in a bit of a bad mood. It's still early, some of the stuff she liked broke, AND this guy's telling her she's a weak little baby without even saying it. She's going to throw a jab in here and there.]

All I'm saying is just because you've got a big sticks doesn't mean you're the only ones that are important here. What're you gonna do when things start to break?

[sturzflug]

First of all, we don't have sticks. They're batons. And secondly, it doesn't matter if shit starts to break! What matters is minimizing the amount of people and pokemon that get sent to the hospital, why the hell is that so hard to understand!?

[lotsofhart]

Pop quiz: What's your warp band run on?

[sturzflug]

[ Jean sighs. He's about to surprise you with the fact that he studied this crap. ]

The Radio Towers. I know.

How's about this then? Pop quiz: what's more important? Warp bands, or getting people to safety?

[lotsofhart]

Ding-ding. Good job, you get a gold star.

People, obviously, but think for a sec. Radio towers go down. People already in chaos. They can't get a hold of anyone. Can't warp in their Pokemon. People trapped underground, bam, dead, cause you're never going to find them without it.

Let's try another. Power goes down. All those people getting medical attention, suddenly heat's gone. Lights out. I don't think I need to elaborate how bad that'd get, real quick.

[sturzflug]

You think we don't know that?! You honestly think the the Guard just decided to, I dunno, fuck off and save people and 'oh no, now we've got no time to check the Radio Towers, guess we'll just keep wasting our precious time by making sure all the injured are taken care of!'

Hell, since you're so fucking smart, why aren't you leading your own rescue party to go save your little towers, huh?! Oh, that's right. Because you're not in the Guard. Or the Swords. So maybe shut the hell up and let us do our damn jobs!

[lotsofhart]

[Deep breath, Soph. Not everyone understands. Her voice is frosty, somewhat distant.]

No, I'm not. Not all of us are lucky enough to be Enlightened, and can do for themselves. Doesn't mean I'm incapable. Doesn't give you the excuse to wave your big baton around like your some kind of godsdamn hero, like you're the only ones who can do anything here.

Being able to fight on your own and supposedly save people with your own two hands doesn't give you any right to turn your nose up at anyone else wanting to help, and you should remember that.

[sturzflug]

Being Enlightened has nothing to do with it! Some of us are Normal-- we can't really do shit! Have you joined the guard? Are you doing anything to help the city!? 'Cause if not, then you need to shut up before you start lecturing me, ya brat!

[ Unfortunately, you picked the wrong Enlightened to bring this conversation to, Sophie. As Jean literally has... no powers at all. That he knows of. Cause I mean, Tackle doesn't really count. ]

If anything, it sounds to me like you're using the fact that you aren't Enlightened as a crutch for staying home and getting pissed about an earthquake breaking your stuff!

[lotsofhart]

At least it's something!

[Man, at least you can tackle. Sophie can probably, I don't know, throw a wrench at someone, with what good that would even do. But she wouldn't, because she loves her wrench, and all her tools.

Although she might be tempted to throw him at something if he doesn't cut it out.]

Like I said, I am on STANDBY. Towers aren't down, so I know you heard me loud and clear. Or are those ears of yours too full of muscle to even hear what I'm saying, Baton Boy?

[sturzflug]

It's nothing! It's a pain in my ass, is what it is!

[ Sometimes literally, so to speak. But uh, as for tackling, it's called running at someone to knock them down, Sophie. Even we mortals can do it. ]

They're full of feathers, so shut the fuck up! And if your precious towers aren't down, then quit your damn yammering! What the hell are you gettin' mad at me for? I'm just doing my stupid job!

[lotsofhart]

[Stop. Wait. What?]

Full of... what? What are you even talking about?

[sturzflug]

My ears.

[ Shrug. Yeah, so what. ]

It's another of those "cool" enlightened things you're so jealous of. Uselessly feathered ears.

[lotsofhart]

[Snrk.]

Seriously? That's adorable. Is it like down, or actual feathers? What other "cool" stuff've you got?

[sturzflug]

[ YOU SAID THE THING, YOU CALLED THEM CUTE!! ]

They're down if you really must know, now shut the fuck up, quit asking, and stay in your damn house so the rest of us on the Guard can do our job!

[lotsofhart]

[Technically she said they were adorable, but semantics.]

Touchy. Okay. Duly noted. No muscle between your ears, just down. Got it. Sheesh.

[She sighs.]

Look. Yeah, okay, we need the Guard I guess. But telling people who can help and are just waiting for their chance to bugger off is a dick move. You said yourself, you're pretty much in the same boat as me as far as usefulness is concerned. How would you feel if you had some asshole suddenly screaming at you over band saying you're useless and to leave it to someone who can actually do something? Pretty friggin bad, I'd bet.

[sturzflug]

Man, I haven't called you useless once, you must have some kind of complex or something. You gave me sass about being a meathead and for being in the Guard. I was just doing my job by reminding you to stay indoors, where it's safe!

This isn't about you or me, it's about the city. And if everyone who thought they could help went outside and helped somebody, then we'd have a second crisis on our hands from having to make sure those people didn't get injured, either. That's. All.

I'm doing my job.

[ Just, you know, not exactly in the smoothest way possible. ]

[lotsofhart]

You don't have to out-and-out say something for me to get what you mean.

And I'd like to do mine. Not for me, for the city. Don't need you telling me to sit still and be a good girl.

[sturzflug]

Yeah, well you'd be damn wrong, then. Telling you to stay indoors has nothing to do with what you can or can't do. It's about safety. I'd say the same stupid thing to an Enlightened, or a pokemon, or even the fucking Council if I saw them, okay?

If you got a job, then wait for orders! For Savior's sake, it's not about telling you to sit still, it's about reducing the chaos in the streets! Can't anybody see the bigger picture here?!

[lotsofhart]

[Pause.]

Sorry. I'm used to having to defend myself. Plus this whole thing's got me on edge. Doesn't give me the right to bite your head off.

[Didn't necessarily give him the right either, but moral high ground, blah blah blah.]

[sturzflug]

Damn right it doesn't.

[ Sorry, he's a sore winner. ]

[lotsofhart]

Doesn't give you the right to be a dick, though, Wing Ears.

[sturzflug]

[ Better than buttwings, that's for sure. ]

Yeah, well, I don't need to earn the right for that.

[ Yes, he is okay with being called a dick. It's not the first time or the last. ]

[lotsofhart]

Point.

Nothing better happen while I'm out, or else I'm blaming you.

[sturzflug]

Yeah, whatever. Wouldn't be the first time somebody blamed me for something I didn't do.

[lotsofhart]

Not doing your job, that's pretty bad.