16: action

[realmenknitplushies]

In one of Union's parks, there's a young man with an Ampharos resting against a tree by an ornamental pond, a head full of thoughts.
He'd come here as a kid, but never really appreciated it before. But now... he needs the space to work things out.
Kanji looks at the photo he's holding and whispers.

"Hey. I know this ain't what you were expectin' I'd do with my life, but ... you never even knew Caldera existed, huh. And I ain't ever stopped wanting to be strong for ya, but ... I've been thinkin'. There's other kinds of strength, ain't there? If I keep training, I'll get one, and I'm not gonna give that up.

But there's the sort 'f strength you get inside, too. I'm still learning about that one, but... I think I'm starting to get what it means.

I'll-"

Something snags in his heart. A determination that he hadn't been sure was there before.

"I ain't gonna stop giving one hundred percent. I'll make ya proud."

Sparks flicker under his skin - and a rush of light blazes outwards.
This time, Kanji's not stopping it.
He looks up to the skies above Union and laughs, throwing his hands into the air, watching them shift and change... bulky armour cascades down his arms, plating forming around the rest of his growing body under his clothing (dammit, he's going to have to fix his wardrobe again), the odd cable forming near his joints and falling from his hair.

Evolving through happiness, not raw power.

Steel and Electric, he slowly realises as the glow fades. No more Fighting-type. Well, he can live with that.

--

It's a little later that he can be seen walking home to the gallery, head still spinning. Okay. He's got a lot of things to do today. Call or visit friends, let them know what's going on. Give them his new address in Caldera. Arrange for his Pokémon to be transferred to the habitat over there, if they want to come with him. Never mind packing his bags...

He's a little bit spacy right now, not entirely looking where he's going, slightly forgetful of his evolved size.
At least he's got a reason to be a bit out of it. Still - apologies to anyone who he walks into.

Comments

[celebrity_commentator]

Rise has a lot of sensory advantages over normal people. Over the last 16 months or so, she's gotten accustomed to all the extra information that her eyes give her when she looks directly enough at someone. All in all it's made her, she feels, very insightful.

She still has no idea what to make of her metal-coated friend, though, and almost gets run over out of sheer surprise.

"Hey! What...Kanji? What happened?"

[realmenknitplushies]

It takes him a moment to stop himself, unused to his increased size and weight - but Rise's voice and presence is at least enough for him to thud to a halt.

"I worked a few things out. And ... I guess that set some things movin'."

[celebrity_commentator]

"You uh...definitely look like you came to a decision," she says. "You look amazing, in fact."

[realmenknitplushies]

Kanji can't help but laugh a bit, looking down at himself. "Damn. I'm glad ya think so. This is... definitely gonna take gettin' used to, y'know?"

[celebrity_commentator]

"I'll say. This isn't the first time I've been glad I'm half-normal, if only for my wardrobe."

Rise smiles warmly.

"I'm guessing you're going to Caldera?"

[realmenknitplushies]

Seriously. Kanji's smile's a thin one at the first comment, but gains an odd sad warmth at her guess. "Yeah. Was ... kinda hard, but in the end, I guess I realised - I'd decided as soon's I got the letter. It's what I wanted... I was just tryin' to convince myself otherwise 'cause it felt like Rangers were doin' a more important job."

[celebrity_commentator]

"Well, they do have an important job," she agrees, "but it's not the only important job, you know? Us artists deserve some appreciation, too."

Hey, she and Kanji have something in common besides home neighborhood and Enlightenedness now. She hadn't realized.

[realmenknitplushies]

He grins. "Damn right. Sure, I could go on fightin'. I could go off 'n do that... I'd probably do a good job. But I wouldn't be doin' it for me."