ACTION

[all_onis_are_true]

[There seems to be a bit of a scene in front of the Pokemon Habitat today. Some other teens seem to be accosting another one, who is standing with a stony expression on his face. If you move closer to the group, you might overhear the conversation; they're not exactly quiet about it.

"Hey, we should contact the authorities. Some idiot let the Murder Nerd have Pokemon, ha ha."

"Hey little Axew, how about you come be my Pokemon instead? You'll live longer. Ha ha ha ha.

Man, where'd you get this Smeargle? It's WAY too cool looking for you -- hey, the little bastard just ruined my shirt! Lousy --"

You might know the one standing by saying nothing, although he does seem to stand up for his own Pokemon here and there. When people say terrible things to HIM, however, he shuts up for some reason. Is this something you even want to get in the middle of?]

Comments

[kaidont]

[... the Kaido of six months ago would have just ignored the scene. The Kaido of a few years ago might have participated. But, well--there's something about this entire picture that rubs at him the wrong way, in a painful way.

It's because that kind of bullying is pathetic, and only done by weaklings who're scared of their target. Yeah.

... someone with more common sense would have just stepped in front of Hiroshi. But this is Kaido, and, well, he has a different way of doing things.

Namely, hitting the bullies with Fairy Wind, from behind]

[all_onis_are_true]

["Ow! Shit! What the hell?! Who hits people with Pokemon moves! Bastard! We'll remember this!"

Naturally, they run with their tails between their legs, leaving Hiroshi, grabbing one arm and looking down at the ground. Takuro puts a paw on his leg sympathetically.]

[kaidont]

Tch. All bark and no bite. Bunch of weaklings.

[He turns to face Hiroshi]

Yo, you all right?

[all_onis_are_true]

...Thank you for your concern. But you needn't have bothered...

[Guertena seems to have started painting a bit on the walls. Thankfully, whatever he's using looks washable, but it seems awfully inconsiderate -- although the nature of the art signifies he's kind of annoyed.]

[kaidont]

Like hell I didn't. What was that all about anyway?

[His Flabébé looks at the paintings with some concern. She's the one who saved you, technically]

[all_onis_are_true]

...An incident from the past that tarnished my reputation somewhat. Nothing to be concerned about.

[kaidont]

So you're just gonna let them do that to you without fighting? Looked to me like they were more scarred of you than anything.

[His eyes are drawn to your Axew... well, he seems to like you, anyway. He's surprised you don't stand up for yourself more for his sake]

[tinytactician]

Excuse me? [Behold, a knight in shining armor!

...or a tiny blond with a Cherubi in his arms and a Ralts on his head, who can't leave well enough alone.] Ahem. Ex-cuse me, you are blocking the door.

[all_onis_are_true]

["Hey man, butt out. We're talking to the Murder Nerd here. Ain't that right, Murder Nerd?"

Hiroshi shrinks a little. The Axew he's with growls noticeably at the group, and the Smeargle -- holy crap, is that a Shiny Smeargle? -- holds his brush at them threateningly.]

...I suppose we can move.

[tinytactician]

[Armin's eyes narrow a little and he draws himself up to his full (diminutive) height, encouraged by the reactions of the Pokemon.]

I-I don't like bullies. I think you guys should leave.

[all_onis_are_true]

[The bullies stop and turn towards Armin, looking annoyed.

"Geez, can you believe this? Standing up for this guy. I wonder if this kid would be as willing to stand up for him if he knew what this guy did."

The other bullies chuckle. Hiroshi looks away miserably.]

[tinytactician]

[Armin automatically backs up a step, hugging his Cherubi close protectively, while his Ralts waves little blobby arms threateningly. Then he lifts his chin defiantly.]

I-It doesn't matter! Nobody deserves to be bullied!

[This is the part where his 30-foot-long Steelix buddy, Gertrude, slithers around the corner and looms over the group. S'up, bullies?]

[all_onis_are_true]

[Further debate has been sidelined due to the presence of ho shit giant Pokemon. They get the point and leave, but not without glaring at Armin.

"We're telling you, kid, he's not worth it."

And off they go. Hiroshi stands wordlessly, looking down at the ground.]

[a_gentle_boy]

'Murder-Nerd'...?

[Lucas stands by and blinks for a few moments.]

...Um. I'm sorry, but I think you all need to go. I have to go take care of my Pokemon, you see.

[all_onis_are_true]

["Yeah, Murder Nerd. You don't know? Hey Hiroshi! Tell him! Tell him about what happened to Takuro and the others! Go on!"]

...

["Oh that's right. You can't, right? Oh, poor baby. Gotta be hard for you not to tell people about what you did out there, right? After all, who knows what they'd do to you when they found out what you really did!"]

...

["Anyway, you shouldn't get too close to this guy. People around him have a bad habit of disappearing, you know?"

The Axew growls at them.]

[a_gentle_boy]

[Lucas smiles, his expression slightly pained as they talk.]

I understand. Thank you for your concern.

But, um. ...My Pokemon really is going to get hungry... I think I'll just summon it out here.

[Lucas fiddles with his Warp Band for a little bit and then suddenly 30 foot tall Steelix. It swoops down and gives Hiroshi's tormenters a hard stare.]

Um... Hiroshi, right? Could you help me with Ferro?

[all_onis_are_true]

[The bullies stare at the giant Steelix... then immediately book it. "DON'T THINK WE DIDN'T WARN YOU! YOU DAMN KID!"]

...ah...

[Oddly, Hiroshi looks kind of intimidated himself. It's hard to say if he's look at the Steelix specifically, though, or at something else. The Axew says something to the Smeargle, and after a moment, the Smeargle nods and both hold onto Hiroshi, as if steadying him.]

...Big...

[a_gentle_boy]

O-Oh! Sorry... I didn't mean to scare you. Um. Ferro's really nice! He... He likes rocks. ...And metal.

And hula hooping.

Ferro, this is Hiroshi. We talked on the phone before.

[all_onis_are_true]

Ah... yes...

[He stared at Ferro for a bit longer.]

...Why did you defend me? Even after hearing that...

[niepokonany]

[God, this is why he likes Pokémon better than people more often than not. Like, at least when they try to eat him or something, they've usually got reasons that aren't quite as awful.]

[Feliks puts himself between the two groups, giving the bullies a look best described as "deeply unimpressed". Neither he nor his Ralts nor his Hoppip and Vulpix look too intimidating-- the general visual theme of the group seems to be "short and soft-looking", really-- but he holds himself like he believes he's a threat to take seriously.]

Do you like, actually have nothing better to do with your day than mess with this kid? How about backing off before his Pokémon get any sicker of looking at your faces?

[all_onis_are_true]

[Yeah, that got their attentions. They're turning towards Feliks now, looking annoyed.

"Hey, the hell's your problem? We're just concerned about the well-being of his Pokemon, you know?"

Takuro would be kicking one of the bully's legs if Hiroshi wasn't stopping him right now.]

[niepokonany]

[Feliks is used enough to bigger people messing with him that it doesn't much phase him anymore. He puts the hand that isn't holding Jadwiga the Ralts on his hip, heaving out a sigh of annoyance.]

Yeah, 'cause his Pokémon can't make their own choices? I don't know if you just have, like, crazy Pokémon envy or what, but seriously, it's kinda embarrassing to watch.

[all_onis_are_true]

[The bullies laugh harshly. "Man, you have no idea who this guy is, do you? Ever heard of the Murder Nerd? Hey, Murder Nerd! Why don't you tell this dumbass where you got the nickname?"]

...

["Man, wussing out as usual? Hah."]

[niepokonany]

So if he murdered somebody, how come he's still in the city?

And like, more importantly, shouldn't you be thankful he's "wussing out"? Like, seriously, do you want some kind of repeat performance?

[all_onis_are_true]

[Hiroshi noticably winces. The other bullies look hesitant, but the main one's fists get tighter.

"Hell if I know why he's still here! Four of them go off, and only he comes back again?! He doesn't even tell anybody where they went or what happened! I bet his family paid off people or something!"

Interestingly, Hiroshi's knuckles also look white.]