VICTORY ROAD IC INBOX

[betheman]

I will put things here soon. And....INFO....

Comments

video;

[machismost]

[ Kirishima, after some consideration, decides to go with a video. It's how a man speaks to another man, after all, face to face even if it is from afar. He's an older teenager in some workout casual clothes, a plain tee and some basketball shorts, hunched to address the camera. His hair is spiked with two prominent hair 'horns' over his brow, black roots reaching up into cherry red. ]

Yo!

[ He greets with a little smile, though it seems a bit hesitant. It's still enough to show every tooth in his mouth seems to be sharp like a shark's. ]

Gogenzaka, I'm Kirishima. This is really late, but I saw your network post about Rockets a while back and...

Are you okay, dude? Like, I've never seen anybody be outright and say they got recruited to Team Rocket before. I know they must get offworlders in their ranks, I just never knew how or what that was even like.

And I gotta guess they hate people talking out about them at all so I just... [ He clenches a fist. ] IT WAS TOTALLY MANLY! PLEASE DON'T BE DEAD!!!

i cant wait for kirishima to learn that this boy is -four years younger- than him

[betheman]

[Gongenzaka's reply takes just a bit of time to come in- it can't be that he's actually dead right...right?!?!

But no! There he is, alive and well- turning on the screen from what looks to be...is that Moo Moo? And he's wearing wintery clothes and clearly just helping out on the farm now!

And he looks almost bashful actually-] Hello, this is Gongenzaka! And I...

[Are his eyes watering!?] I, the man Gongenzaka, am so honored to hear these words..! I assure you, I am not dead! [he shouts through triumphant tears.] In fact, I have reunited with friends from home, and we have temporarily taken up employment in the country while I, the man Gongenzaka, and Yuuya as well, adjust!

I am alright however- I received help, and have since then been training myself and my pokemon as well!

SAME

[machismost]

[ Kirishima here would readily recognize Moo Moo Farm, having purchased a Pokemon there and also having thrown off his shirt for a Tauros race in the last year! He's also very recently been there as a kind of emotional therapy since one of his friends went into a coma. Anyway! He definitely recognizes where the other is.

Oh! The guy's eyes are watering. In this strong face that Gongenzaka has, Kirishima believes it must be a fit of passion and not weakness that makes him brim up. The triumphant shouting reassures him of this. He straightens up, grins with his sharp teeth, and flashes a thumbs-up. ]

Glad to hear it, man! You seemed strong, so I was only worried because those jerks Team Rocket have a bunch of people! No one man's as strong as a whole army!

I'm so glad you've got friends from home here! I don't even know what I'd have done without mine and I didn't even have to deal with Team Rocket for a few months!

Team Rocket hasn't messed with you since your message, though?

[betheman]

Hmm!! Indeed not! Though that will not stop one from doing their best to match it! [he proclaims easily, grinning widely.] They have not however- while I, the man Gongenzaka, encountered one agent some time after leaving, they have not sent more since. I expect it is because of how brief I was with them...what knowledge I have of them is too little to worry about, [he admits freely, shaking his head.]

Still, it was...unexpected, to fight through not fists, but instead fire and poison, [he mutters somewhat darkly. What a mess! But also, is he saying he went through that many pokemon attacks!?!]

[machismost]

A few people seem like they really got caught up with Team Rocket. I mean I've come across agents who didn't seem happy about what they were doin'... This is definitely a kinda proof for me, but I'm wondering why anyone wouldn't just try to leave..

Wait. Are you saying you left with Pokemon attacking you?

[ That's one hellova taboo. ]

[betheman]

Hm! Of course! I did not strike back against them, but it would have been unforgivable if I, the man Gongenzaka, allowed their attacks to stop me from leaving as well!!

[holy shit dude]

...Though I was required to replace much of what I had been wearing afterward...

[machismost]

... I just wanna understand I'm hearin' you right.

You ran out of a bunch of poison and fire attacks from Pokemon and Rocket still... sent you some kinda bill for the clothes they burned through?

[betheman]

Oh! No, of course not! In fact beyond one single trainer who attempted to force my return through strange personal loyalty, they have not done anything at all!

However my clothes were in no condition to be worn following the escape...

[Fire and poison. Fire and Poison...]

[machismost]

[ Calculating, processing... ]

THAT'S SO MANLY!!!! HOLY CRAP!!

[ He wants to try that ghost-pepper skin challenge now, of course... But second best is: ]

I wanna spar so bad with you at some point dude! But I also wanna make sure you're good. What's your team looking like right now?

[betheman]

MNH! [He looks somewhat alarmed- perhaps even bashful, to say the least.] It was only a matter of following the teachings of my dojo, truly..! But I, the man Gongenzaka, would love a spar! Currently, I have a small number of pokemon as well...two, I had when leaving Team Rocket. The other, somewhat recently hatched. They are a 'Mawile', 'Linoone', and 'Hawlucha'.

[Technically the linoon is galarian.}

[machismost]

Hawlucha! That's a strong fighter I've heard a lot of good things about! Not that the others you said are bad at all - I've just been researching Fight-type Pokemon myself.

Listen, I started out in this world with one good Pokemon and a bento box. That was hard, but you're fighting even more against the odds after Team Rocket harassed you! In my mind, if we're gonna spar, I feel like we ought to be somewhat at the same level with each other and I've got a whole year of experience in this world over you. Is it cool if I send you some stuff for the winter holiday comin' up?

[ ...Has there ever been a more bro way of asking to spoil a guy? ]

I mean, I'll fight you naked if I gotta, but the winter's kinda irritating here!

me mentally going 'ok small cash, but Farm Access...' as I sort any gifts like:

[betheman]

Indeed they are.... [And with an odd smile as he thinks back on it-] ....She drop tackled both myself and Yuuya the moment she hatched...

[It was pretty neat in hindsight.

Sobering up however, Gongenzaka shakes his head.] Hauh-! No need for such handicaps! And I, the man Gongenzaka do not mind at all- if I can however, I shall try to do the same in turn. [The holidays are the holidays after all!] I, the man Gongenzaka, look forward to the day we can fight as equals however!

[machismost]

[ It'd be wrong to say Kirishima coos from that story, but he definitely makes a noise in the back of his throat to signify empathy and the sentiment of 'damn, that's cute'. ]

When I met my starter, Machop, he punched me as hard as he could in the gut!

[ Flex! of a passionate fist!

Now he anticipated this kind of protest. ]

Do you think it's a handicap to offer a freezing man your coat if you just came upon him, warm yourself, in the snow? It's not a handicap! You'd just be letting him live up to his potential! It's the same as if you crossed a man in the desert with some water. Do you automatically think he is a lesser man? I don't!

[betheman]

AUH- Th...That is-

[How does he say this-

Well first, he bows as steeply as possible- he may have vanished from the screen.]

My humblest apologies..!

I, the man Gongenzaka...Had assumed you were speaking of yourself when you spoke of such a fight!

[Over the top handicaps are just a thing he's familiar with!! How was he to know that he meant him!!]

Please, let me assure you then, I have at least acquired a jacket and new clothing...

[Thanks to Steven, but he won't go into detail on that at least. As it is, there's a difference between a good fall jacket and...well. Something meant for winter.]

[machismost]

[ Ah!!!

Kirishima's not a very formal person, but he can certainly acknowledge formality being given to him. It's weird, but endearing.He's still struggling to understand the miscommunication, however. Did this dude... think he would be helping out Kirishima? Or? ]

I meant I want YOU to fight ME! If you can beat me, dude, maybe I'd let you at my Machop...

But dude, I'm glad you got clothes! More than one set of clothes? I only got one when I arrived.

[betheman]

[Mostly he assumed Kirishima would help him, 'But Also' that Kirishima was...offering to handicap a fight. The two things just didn't link up in his head entirely, when the more familiar fight option was right there. What do you mean guys don't make those kinds of challenge offers after talking about christmas presents!?]

Mnh...! I see...

Regardless..! I, the man Gongenzaka, received help from another while in Goldenrod; he showed me to a department store, to make certain I had enough supplies. Otherwise, all I would have had for clothing would have been...

[Gongenzaka scowls.] ....Their uniform...

[machismost]

Well, if you feel like you're all good, man, I get it.

[ He's unhappy his ploy to get generous did not work. ]

How do you feel about exchanging gifts for the holidays?

And then maybe a spar in the new year!

[betheman]

Hmn! I, the man Gongenzaka, would gladly welcome such an exchange! And the spar as well of course!

[Fortunately he can still get generous! He just...has to think a bit more? Maybe? There's probably a way to cheat here.]

[machismost]

Hell yeah! I'm sitting out winter in Olivine right now, but when spring comes--

[ Fist grip! ]

We're on! You and me! Maybe our Pokemon too!

Um, I'd like any kind of weights or resistance bands for me an my Pokemon! We work out a lot!

What kinda things do you think you'd want?

'what does gon need' stares into space the answer is a lot so uh

[betheman]

Resistance bands or weights... [He's gonna look into that. ...Ah-] Hm! There is not much which I, the man Gongenzaka would normally wish for...however, coming here, it is clear there is much that I, the man Gongenzaka, do not have experience with- both in travelling, and training as well. I, the man Gongenzaka, would not say that weights are what I need- but...

[Gongenzaka frowns a bit, clearly trying to pin down just what he WILL need. The list is probably pretty expansive, but he doesn't want to leave Kirishima with no real direction either.] Hmn! I, the man Gongenzaka, will trust your judgement- whatever you would think is most necessary to continue one's training here- that is all I could ask for.

[Be it as simple as a lift weight or otherwise! He's really not going to be picky here.]

you're doing just fine gon, bb, we're all rooting for you

[machismost]

[ Wow, amazing, it's almost like Kirishima gave out some concrete ideas for things that are relatively cheap unless someone decides to go overboard and just pick up several cheap things...

Gogenzaka essentially offering him carte blanche for gifts to give him in turn results in a bright, shark-toothed grin. ]

I gotcha! Where are you at right now?

u got this gon...

[betheman]

[Amazing, what a concept, a thoughtful concept-

Yuzu is definitely going to point this out to him when they go shopping.] Currently, the intention is to remain at MooMoo Farm for some time- it is a good place to work, and one which provides room and board.

[machismost]

[ He's got you and your permission to gift you, dude. Game over... ]

Be careful around the puppies!

[ He expects the opposite of his advice will be taken in this respect... RIP Gogenzaka under the Growlithe and Yamper puppy pile. Kirishima, in the meantime, is building a sort of gift basket of goodies for you. ]

wheezes i gotta escape retail hell week before I can post any gifts....alas...

[betheman]

Haha! I will be as careful as possible, yes!

[Fortunately or unfortunately he is normally dealing with the Large Bois. But he will probably have to rescue everyone else from puppy pile.

oh boy, gift basket though.]

Action | Dated to the 14th

[hippocarnival]

[Yuya did not catch Gongenzaka before he went off to train. Sleeping won out in the end, but it's just as well as he's sure he'll catch him at some point during the day.

So when Yuya does finally rouse, he decides to take Yuzu her gift first and hope that, when he returns, it'll be before Gongenzaka does any post-training clean up and heading out for the day. He'd rather not have to hunt him down.

He knocks on the bedroom door before sticking his head in.] Gongenzaka? You in here?