superordinary | 3rd rebuttal; video (action for Violet)

( ACTION; Violet City )

[ The spoiler bomb Asahina dropped on him last month has been difficult to deal with, for understandable reasons; it's not anything a teenager (or anyone) should ever have to deal with. Talking to Ishimaru has done wonders, as did taking his time to absorb everything. Monobear never gave them the time they needed back inside the school so in a way, just...having that is great. It's still a heavy weight to carry, but he's back on his feet and ready to keep walking forward.

Naegi is much more resilient than he thinks he is, and he has his friends.

That said, he decided to buy a camera as a way to deal with his amnesia. It's a long shot given he has no idea how the memories were even removed to begin with, but he's hoping to make memories of the forgotten years resurface by creating and preserving new ones; and if it doesn't work, he will still have these new ones with him. New, happy memories of his friends. If he can have that, he's pretty much content. ]

[ People in Violet City may run into Naegi and his entourage of Pokémon today. All of his Pokémon are out of their Pokéballs and judging from the camera he's holding, he's trying to get his band of critters to pose for a group picture.

It's...not going too well. He has over ten of them and half of them start doing their own thing as soon as Naegi turns his back. ]

Yumie, stay still for a second, please? [ The Togetic chirps, tilting its head. If the birdthing could talk, it would say something like "Boo, that's boring, why are we doing this? :<" ]

Kagura, stop pretending to be Ishimaru-kun...

[ While Naegi was trying to talk Yumie into staying still, his Zorua took the opportunity to create its illusion. Apparently being a certain kid is a new favourite past time. "Ishimaru" barks at Naegi and then proceeds to weird out the general vicinity by staring at anyone walking by. The illusion itself is rather convincing, but the lack of blinking sends the entire thing right into the uncanny valley. ]

( midoriflies.jpg & VIDEO )

[ Bigger version here. 'Sup, network, today Naegi decided to showcase one of the photos he's taken. In case you can't tell, the photo features a Dragonair and a Ducklett flying above a tree. ~~Yes, I got lazy and used a custom brush for the clouds.~~

The video shows Naegi sitting on a bench somewhere in Violet and he seems to be in a good mood today, judging by the small smile on his lips. The Dragonair from the picture is curled up beside him and occasionally a snore can be heard from it. ]

Midori evolved into Dragonair today. Isn't she beautiful? I think she was really looking forward to it because she took flight as soon as she evolved. Although I don't really understand how she can fly with those wings. I'm guessing that's just another case of Johto being Johto, huh?

[ There's no logic to how things operate in Pokéworld, really. After almost four months in Johto, Naegi's able to shrug it off as nothing out of the ordinary. His Togetic can fly without flapping its wings so he can accept the head wings. At least they're not Victini's butt wings. ]

I bought a camera so I could capture moments like this one. I'm not really a good photographer, but I like how this one came out and I think it's a great way to preserve memories of my time here.

Speaking of memories, I'd like hear about yours! I know a lot of you want to go home as soon as possible, but I'm sure you've had some good times in this world, too. Things like making new friends, or just enjoying the sights.

[ No, really, tell him about all the positive things Johto has brought you. Having said that, he reaches over to cut the feed. ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Though it's only been a couple months since Naegi and John last ran into each other, the bespectacled teen seems to have managed to skip several years in age during that time frame. Taller, leaner... though apparently his eyes still suck and braces continue to be a foreign concept. Memory comas are weird.]

Pictures are a great way to do that! My best friends and I have several albums worth of pictures at this point of our various adventures here. [John is positively beaming as he speaks, seeming almost happily nostalgic.]

That being said, I don't know where to even begin when it comes to talking about the good times we have had here. There are just so many...

Isn't that a great thing? Having so many good memories you don't know where to begin... I hope I'll have that many memories of my friends one day.

[ Either by remembering old ones or by creating new ones, though both would be ideal. He pauses, looking at the video feed. ] You look different, Egbert-kun.

Oh, yeah. [He waves a hand somewhat dismissively.] Memory coma happened. Long story short, I repeated some years and skipped one so now I am sixteen. When I woke up, my body somehow compensated for the change.

[The late bloomer finally hit puberty, basically.]

But it really is a good thing, yes! If I really had to pick though... the first time my three best friends and I met up together will always be near and dear to my heart. Because it was the first time we had ever met in person, period! So even if I was sick at the time, it was basically the best thing.

[He smiles fondly.]

But just give it a little time, I have no doubt that one day you can say the same thing. Especially since, if I am understanding correctly, there are quite a few of your friends here now, aren't there?

Um. I...see... [ Okay, that flew right over his head. Memory coma what now? ]

Since you guys met in person for the first time, then I'm guessing you knew each other over the Internet beforehand or something like that.

[ He nods his head in response. ]

Ah, you've talked to them...? Four of them are here now, and I'm glad for that. I'm really lucky to have them as my friends.

Bingo! We all met on the internet and became fast friends! We just... lived too far away from each other to visit.

[He scratches at his cheek, giving a short laugh. Ma, that seems like forever ago, he's gotten so used to being able to see all of them every day.]

Three of four, yes. Though I didn't realize they were friends of yours until a couple days ago. [When Asahina mentioned all of them together. It's been a slow game of connect the shsl dots.] But they all seem like very nice people, so I can see why you would say that.

They're great people. Honestly, I don't know what I'd do without them.

[ At this point he's starting to regard them as family. Murderschool sort of brings that out in people. ]

I feel like we've gotten really close during the past few months, and travelling together means we get to do things we couldn't do before. I mean, you don't normally get to travel across the lands and catch Pokémon with your friends.

[Hardship has the tendency to do that, yes. So does rampant friend death.]

This place has a funny way of doing that, bringing people together. I think it's one of the things that I like most, to be honest. That and the Pokémon themselves. Because if you don't think they're cool, I'm sorry but: you're wrong.

I agree with you on that. They're really amazing creatures, and they come in so many different species...There's a Pokémon out there for everyone, I think. And I'm really glad I got the chance to be a trainer.

[ Well, technically he's a breeder but he hasn't started the egg business yet. Details. ]

Oh most definitely! Actually, there are so many that sometimes it seems like there might be multiple species out there for a person. [He laughs.] I have a hard time picking just one that I think is the quintessential John Egbert Pokémon.

But yeah, it's a great opportunity. Not a day goes by that I'm not thankful for it.

Heh. That's true. It's just a matter of finding the species that are just right for you. [ Naegi lets out a small laugh, too. ] I don't know if I'd call it the quintessential Makoto Naegi Pokémon, but I like the Togepi line a lot. I started with one and she's a great partner. We both do our best not to give up.

Meeting her and the rest of my team, and being in Johto with my friends... I feel incredibly lucky. It really is an opportunity.

[ It's more about his friends and the goal of one day bringing all of them here for a second chance at life, but the Pokémon definitely makes everything better. And for once he feels like he actually has some SHSL Good Luck. ]

Edited (TINY GRAMMATICAL FUCKUP + i wanted to change it a bit) 2013-08-18 00:15 (UTC)

Ah, yeah, Togepis are great! Mine's a Togekiss now and he wasn't my starter but I definitely have to agree with them making for good teammates. And just good to have around in general, I really think the Pokédex wasn't exaggerating about the happiness thing. Even my most disagreeable Pokémon seem to be in a better mood when Cupid is around.

[Togepi appreciation time is go apparently.]

It's kind of rare to hear people say they feel lucky to be here though. I mean, there are plenty of people who are happy to be here, sure, but I think you are the first I have met who has said they feel lucky.

[ Naegi shifts and scratches the back of his head at that, looking a bit uncomfortable. Murderschool isn't exactly a topic he wants to talk about. ]

Well..um, the situation back home wasn't good. So I consider myself lucky for being here.

[At least John seems to pick up on the fact that he said something he probably shouldn't have. His expression very quickly becomes apologetic and he laughs a little nervously.]

Err...sorry about that. That I made you think about it, I mean? I guess... I didn't know. My bad. But...if it makes you feel any better, my home situation was pretty shitty too so...

I know where you're coming from, at least.

Um, that doesn't exactly make me feel better...but you don't have to apologize. You didn't know.

3rd rebuttal; video (action for Violet)

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