timewasting | TFLN 2020

[ lance already knows. because lance knows everything ~~mostly~~. ]

Only the best come from Johto.

that's pretty funny when the last 2 Champions have been from Kanto, huh? speaking of I heard gramps gave him the go ahead to go to the mountain

[Just, you know. Bringing that up. No reason.]

[ . . . that, ethan did not tell him. and lance is surprised, for a moment, before he sets his own feelings about it aside in favor of: ]

It makes sense, given Ethan has already defeated the Elite Four. There are few challenges left, after us.

[ but that's not why blue brought it up. ]

Are you alright?

lol maybe this one will come back

[This does not

answer

the question]

[ oh boy. ]

Both of them will.

[ and fine, if you really want to dodge that question, lance will ask another one: ]

What do you need?

you seem pretty confident about that

[Sheesh, all this needling... It was pretty annoying that Lance knew what he was thinking about more exactly, but Blue doesn't know if he really texted just to rub it in his face, or... or something.]

[Something...]

just passing the gossip along, thank me later

[ blue's avoidance (while typical) is not helping the concern. and while lance is sure blue can take care of himself, he also knows that red is a sensitive subject. for quite a few people, but particularly blue.

so, he is going to needle. but needling in this manner isn't exactly working. what does typically work is either (1) inflating or (2) challenging blue's ego. but even lance can tell that sort of ribbing is probably
not going to be the most effective. ]

You are confusing confidence for a measure of hope.
But I appreciate the update; I wasn't told Ethan was attempting to scale Mount Silver.
You can tell your grandfather I'll call him later.

[ because the fuck, sam.
ANYWAY.]

Do you have any plans for the next three months? Other than the Gym.

k

[At Lance's obvious displeasure with the idea, Blue wants to make some kind of jibe here- at the butting of about the two only people in the region that could get a word in on each other- but wisely, keeps his thoughts to himself. Playing to either side in that disagreement was a losing battle, for him.]

[....And anyway, he's too distracted with the next part: What the fuck kind of suspicious-ass question is that, Lance!!]

[A measure of time passes as Blue stares at his phone with a distrustful grimace, trying to figure out Lance's angle. Was he joking, poking fun at him? Some kind of passive aggressive dig at his absence from the Gym? Or was he genuinely thinking to herd Blue into some manner of bootcamp with him, out of some misplaced hope of motivating him in his role? ...With all the various excuses Blue had come up with to not sit around and do nothing in a Gym that hardly saw any real challengers, he didn't think there was anything Lance could do to give him that inspiration now.]

plenty, if you need to ask

[And, at risk of showing his hand too much, but insanely curious:] why

[ lance is prepared for a fight, when blue says he has plenty to do . . . but then blue, indeed, shows his hand too much, by asking why.

got him. ]

I have to return to Johto, to train a new Pokemon.
I have business, in Mahogany Town.
And I should also visit home, while there.

[ gyarados doesn't really need to go to johto, but johto is a lot more peaceful (in his professional opinion) than kanto . . . and if gyarados gets furious and decides to try and knock anything apart, it's probably best to do that in blackthorn where there's little to destroy. the rest of it, though, is accurate -- lance wants to make sure mahogany town is okay, and he really does need to visit clair and his grandfather. for at least a day or two. ]

But if I'm being perfectly honest, I want to travel.
I need a break.
And seeing as I know you don't want to be in Kanto, you may as well come with me for at least part of it.
It's promised to be more exciting than the gym.

[ he's calling bullshit on your plans for the next three months!!! ]

so in other words, you want me to come along as an excuse for you to goof off very responsible adulting, champ

[As uncharitable as Blue's interpretation is, it isn't an ...outright refusal...]

[But he's not that easy to fool!!]

if I wanted to hang out in boring Johto I can do it myself what's in it for me

I don't require your permission to leave the region.
If anything, your company will prevent me from "goofing off."

[ read: he can goof off whenever he wants! ]

As for what's in it for you . . .
You may be able to explore Johto on your own, but you can't compete in the Dragon's Den challenge without permission from a member the Dragon Clan.

Only a small handful of outsiders have passed.

[ okay, so that the first part is a quasi-lie. lance is pretty sure blue could wander into blackthorn and his grandfather would let him do whatever he wanted once blue told him who he was and that he knew lance.

but a challenge is a challenge, and one white lie won't hurt. so -- really it's for the best. ]

didn't say you did but call it what it is you delinquent

[Hmph! If you're going to criticize Blue for running off, then at least don't be hypocritical about it!]

[Blue frowns at the issued challenge, and even though he may disparage, he frowns to himself. Tch, whatever wimpy 'challenge' Lance could face him with, he'd just beat it without a sweat anyway...]

why would I wanna do your wimpy dragon challenge? I can beat yours up whenever if you want it that bad

[ somewhere, lance rolls his eyes so hard that they might fall out of his skull. ]

You cannot pass the challenge with a battle alone.
It tests your body, mind, and spirit -- of both yourself, and your Pokemon.
Your single victory against me -- while impressive -- means nothing.

But if you would rather avoid testing your limits, then that is fine.
I will have fun being a delinquent by myself.

[...fuck]

[fuck, he knows this is a trap, but he's mad]

[f u dad!!!!!]

I can make it more than a single victory if you're so sure!!

[Rrrrgh. RRRRRRGH!!!]

fine I'll do your stupid cave test when I beat it you can quit your nagging

[ one day, when blue is ready to hear it, lance will tell him that being predictable is not necessarily a strength.

but, you know. it works to his advantage on this day, which means: ]

We shall see, on all counts.

[ ♥ ]

I will meet you in Viridian by the end of the week.
Please be there.
Dragonite is excited to see you.

[HE KNOWS THAT YOU CAPED SHITHEAD]

whatever not like anyone makes it to this gym anyway I'll leave upkeep to my students

Did you not just text me to let me know that someone not only made it to that gym, but succeeded?

[ lighten up, blue. ]

At any rate, I think this will be good for you.
I began my journey to Champion by testing my abilities and limits within the caverns.
Eventually, I chose to leave Blackthorn; but it shaped my course.
I think you will gain new perspective.

champions get a pass... I said he wasn't bad didn't I?? (even you, if you weren't too scaredy meowth to challenge me again)

[Oh here we go; another looong rambling 'when I was your age'. Blue is rolling his eyes and Lance knows it, surely.]

yeah well your family runs it don't they

[He's not going to fill in the other half of the implication. He thinks Lance can do that himself.]

It is a little more complicated than that.

The ancient masters built the Dragon's Den a long time ago, to honor Pokemon.
I am descended from them, and my grandfather is the current Master that guards over it.
It is a sacred place.

[ and lance halfway considers leaving it at that, because why lance left home is something that is somewhat raw, for his family. he knows clair is frustrated by his avoidance of his so-called responsibilities, as the heir to the clan. and his grandfather wants him to return home and resume his position as the new master. but that has never really struck lance as the best way to help serve the world that he lives in.

so, he left. and ultimately, his family is proud of him. but they still want him to come home, for good. ]

We are intended to stay there until death, to guard the mountainside.
To protect the Pokemon that live there.
It's a solemn duty, to seek approval from the Dragon's Den.

[ and lance did, and then he left. whoops. ]

zzzzzzz

[That's it, that's all he gets. He didn't even read it all; he saw a block of text and gave up. Sorry Lance.]

[ what a disaster of a human being.

ah well. luckily for all involved, lance is (1) fairly unflappable; (2) usually doesn't take this attitude problem personally; and (3) doesn't seek approval from angry teenagers still proving themselves.

still. blue agreed to go. which is really what matters. it'll give lance the opportunity to actually see if he's doing well, and also get blue out of kanto while red and ethan try not to kill each other on mount silver.

and, as an added bonus: ]

My grandfather is going to have fun with you.

[ lance is going to enjoy the next trip to blackthorn. for once. ]

Pack light.

don't say weird stuff like that I know how to pack to travel, loser

[It hasn't been that long since he was a traveling trainer, sheesh!! And despite all protest, grumbling and derisiveness, Blue is at Viridian Gym at the end of the next week, preparing for his absence amongst all the other training and typical lessons he ran for his trainers. He's overseeing some kind of exercise when Lance shows up, sitting bored on a bench on the sideline.]

Oh, you finally showed up. [Blue stretches his legs out, eyes catching on one of the pairs of trainers battling.] I told Sis I won't be home for a while. However long until I get bored in the mountains....

[ lance technically arrives outside of viridian city -- mostly because showing up on a dragonite without any real warning tends to cause something of a stir, and lance isn't really in the mood to talk to sixteen different people before he meets blue.

that being said, he allows dragonite to follow along outside of his pokeball, making his way to the gym quickly enough. and when he ducks inside to see the exercises, he's immediately interested.

for one, it's good to see blue, you know, does take some part of his job seriously. and for another, it's always nice to see viridian gym operating as it should. even though it has been three years since giovanni was removed from his position, the presence of viridian gym operating as it should be has brought a lot of life and vigor to the town. despite the resident leader's obstinate and general bad attitude.

as lance makes his way toward blue to offer a wave, he opens his mouth to respond to the comment -- but dragonite beats him to it. the massive dragon is surprisingly fast as it moves toward the bench, and (perhaps sparing blue his dignity in resisting the urge to give him a bone crushing hug in front of his students) grumbles a hello before gently patting him on the shoulder in greeting.

once that is done, lance turns his attention to the trainers. ]

I have full faith you will last at least a week.

[ mildly, as lance crosses his arms, watching the battle ebb and flow, making mental note of decisions made. and after watching for a few minutes, lance shifts his attention back to blue, with a warm smile. ]

This place is full. [ with a tone of approval. ] I see you haven't had any issues in recruitment.

Dragonite..!

[At least someone gets a proper greeting. Blue appreciates the dragon's sense of propriety- he'd jump up in a heartbeat to give his tummy a big hug, but in front of all his trainers, he'd definitely like to keep things subtle... So he's thankful as the dragon thunders towards him that all he gets is an affection boop, and he returns the touch to the dragon's clawed hand as it pats his shoulder.] Long time no see, big fella!

[His sunny expression clouds again as his attention turns to Lance's observations, indignantly sitting up straighter.] Hmph! Despite what you seem to think of me, there's plenty of people who appreciate my genius and value my instruction enough to join.

You really do think I just sit around doing nothing, don't you!? [He just went on lots of training trips!! But he always had his students taking care of things... It was just more training. You should be thanking him!] Well, they all have their tasks and assignments for when I'm gone, too. You don't have to worry about any surprise attacks on the Gym; they should be more afraid of me if something happened than some weak Rocket.

[A few of the trainers have noticed Lance, to some murmuring amongst them; Blue narrows his eyes and snaps sharply across the battlefield.] --Back to your exercises! Do you want the Elite Four to think you're a slacker? Chop-chop!

Salma, remember, you're supposed to be using only Defensive tactics this week! Don't let me see another Screech.

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