~05; action | video

[tinytactician]

[Action]

[Oh look, it's everyone's favorite earnest, well-meaning, kind-to-all-living-creatures blond kiddo, just chilling in the park with his Pokemon buddies...

...including the absolutely enormous Steelix who's dozing and giving out gravelly snores. In fact, Armin and his little Pokemon friends -- including Nim the Mareep baby and the just-recently-hatched Espurr baby who insists on being held at all moments -- are sitting on top of Gertrude-the-Steelix's head. So anyone trying to approach...best tread lightly.

Armin is clearly in a mood.]

[Video]

[Not so much that he doesn't turn on his Warp Band and ask, shortly, with one of the most grim expressions he's ever worn:] Is anyone signing up for this Tournament?

[...the creepycute baby Espurr sort of ruins his brooding aura, tbh.]

Comments

[all_onis_are_true]

I suppose so, but our competitions are very closely monitored if I recall correctly. I would assume they wouldn't have picked such a thing if they did not feel like they had things under control.

[tinytactician]

[He shrugs, vaguely, clearly not convinced.] I suppose that's right.

[all_onis_are_true]

[Clearly. Hiroshi sighs.]

Regardless of our opinions, this is how the council has chosen to handle things. Until we see evidence that such a choice was poorly determined, all we can do is observe. We might as well see how far we can go in competition while we're at it, and observe how well we have trained our own Pokemon.

[tinytactician]

Well, as long as the trainers -- and their Pokemon -- are enjoying themselves, it's fine. It's...not really my style, though, so I likely won't attend.

[all_onis_are_true]

As is your right. I will let you know if anything odd happens, I suppose.

[Wait, why did he offer that? It's not like he's obligated... although he supposes Armin did help him out back there...]

[tinytactician]

-- oh. [Armin looks surprised, but then smiles, happily.] Thank you. That's very kind of you.

[all_onis_are_true]

It is no trouble, really.

[Well, it's a little trouble. Oh well, no backing out now.]