[Video] flood o'posts

[forgetbeam]

Are any of you familiar with the legend of the Dragon's Gate? They say that there exists a huge waterfall running off a great mountain. Fish swim upstream against the harsh current, but most tire out and are swept away. But those who have the courage to persist and make it to the top of the waterfall are transformed into a beautiful, powerful dragon.

It's a good lesson, isn't it?

That's right! Even though this school has countless obstacles and hurdles and dangers looming quite literally right over our heads, if we give up, we too will be pushed back and will make no progress! We must press on through the unforgiving current, and when we make it, we will come out stronger than ever! All right! Let's do our best to reach the top!!

[What brought this up? Is someone trying to keep himself from going nuts at the idea of one last year here... probably.]

On another note... There are many Pokemon and trainers here, so if anybody has any advice on raising a Magikarp, I'm all ears!

[Ah. Ah. That's it.

ACTION TIMES: Kiyotaka can be found bonding with an ugly fish he lets swim in a kiddie pool out in the stadium some days. Most of the time he can be found studying. Livin' on the edge. Although whatever he's doing, he seems to be favouring his left arm a little.]

Comments

[vidya]

[travelingbelle]

Oohh, a Magikarp...! You picked up a tricky kid, huh?

[forgetbeam]

I don't mind a challenge! In fact, that makes it all the more worthwhile when it too becomes a dragon! Don't you agree?!

[travelingbelle]

[G O O D. Look at her eyes light up NOW SHE'S ON FIRE.]

Definitely!! 1000%! There's nothing better than making that climb with your partner!

Haha, especially when they literally become dragons. Magikarps need a lot of patience, especially if you're training one solo. Are they your only team mate right now?

[She's assuming yes since last time they talked about pokemon, he didn't know what an onix was, but that was a long time ago so...!!]

[actions]

[inspirethefire]

[He sees you there, heading about your day, goin' off to study. Those must be some heavy books, he doesn't usually see you struggling with that load. Well, there's only one thing to do, then!]

Ah! Kiyotaka, let me help you with those!

[forgetbeam]

[Books get super heavy super fast when you're trying to put most of the weight on one arm, okay. Although he tries to even out the distribution at Hajime's approach. This is normally no problem for him, so having someone offer help is a liiittle embarrassing.]

Thank you for the offer, but this is nothing!

[Nnnnghhhow.]

[inspirethefire]

[His brows furrowed together, slightly. It had been just a cordial offer, but something about the refusal struck him as wrong, and it stung. He couldn't quite put his finger on why.]

If it's nothing, then it's hardly a bother for me, is it?

[Perhaps he was overstepping his bounds, but damn it, helping was his business. He reached right over, to lift some of the books from Kiyotaka's stack.]

hello it's the murderbot

[awakeningwill]

[With his recent failures still fresh in his mind, Zero redoubled his focus on keeping tight patrol around the school. His priorities had been too tightly fixed on the mysterious floating island, and in doing so, he not only endangered a student, but also overlooked threats down on the ground.

He'd have to do better. Though it didn't show on his face, those injuries weighed on him. It wasn't a coincidence that he found Ishimaru in the stadium that day, as he did his rounds. Zero wanted to check up on him.

The stadium door opened, and the dull thud of metallic boots walked up to the Magikarp trainer.]

...How's your arm?

you...

[forgetbeam]

[He wasn't sure what to think of Zero lately. In the tension and panic (on his end) that went on in the span of mere minutes up on the island, Kiyotaka didn't have a lot of time to put thought into anything until he was safely back on ground level.

Zero killed so many of those things with ease, and had such a distant attitude toward the act itself. Not enjoying it, not showing any regret. It was just a thing, like...

Like how Vivian had treated gunning down those men in the city two years ago, before she was reset. Because she was programmed that way. Because he could not change that programming.

It was with a wary eye he watched Zero, but he made no move to leave.]

...It's sore, but it's recovering! Nothing vital was hit, so all I need to do is wait for it to heal.

[awakeningwill]

[Zero had seen that look before. It was one he had become quite familiar with, actually. Suspicion, fear and apprehension reflected in both human and reploid eyes as they stared at him from the corner of his vision, defensiveness in their tone and resentment in their words when they spoke - some hushed, and some outright accusations. He'd taken them all in varying degrees over the centuries.

Ishimaru had not reached outright contempt, of course, but he was certainly uneasy. That was... understandable. Zero had failed to protect him. He couldn't fault a civilian for feeling some measure of disillusionment.

Still, there was a touch of disappointment in his face. Just a touch. A barely noticeable tint for anyone unfamiliar to Zero's range of expressiveness.]

I see. Well, don't push yourself.

[Video]

[jonny_talbain]

Magikarp, eh? I've not trained one myself, but I've read a lot about them. There's actually quite a bit of literature out there if you've a mind to find it. Gyarados, its evolved form, is a very powerful Pokémon.

If you'd like, I can forward you a recommended reading list.

[forgetbeam]

There's that much written on a single species? Well, there's no such thing as too much information!!

[what the heck do you think TMI means, moron]

Send me everything you've got! I can't wait to watch an evolution for myself!

[Video]

[punchtheflute]

Bludgeon other weak Pokémon with it till it evolves! You should feed it a lot of poffins, pokéblocks, poképuffs, rare candies and berries! That will make it really strong and healthy! Not to mention happy. Eventually, it's going to learn the move Tackle and then you could battle smaller Pokémon with it!

What level is it? And hey, when did you get your license, Kiyotaka!? I'm really proud of you! When you get your Pokémon really, really strong, we'll have a battle, OK?

[forgetbeam]

do you volunteer Is feeding it all there is to it? What about a good exercise regimen? I heard that experiencing battle is the best way to get it to grow and learn but until it learns to fight I can't do that at all!

[Wait. Levels... license???]

--Wait, hold on just a... second... I never got a license or anything like that. [CRAP, IS HIS FISH ILLEGAL, OH NO, HE GOOFED.]

[Video]

[trustycrowbar]

A magikarp?

[Aren't those the dumb-looking things he caught while spear-fishing with Ziio? Well... SHE caught them, not him, but that's besides the point.]

I didn't even know you could train those things...

[forgetbeam]

They're Pokemon, so of course they're trainable!

video

[andthefungoeson]

If this is about some makin' effort shit, I'm out.

[forgetbeam]

What is your interpretation of the legend?

[Action]

[thereyouare]

[ HEY IT'S MOM ]

Taka!

[ Vivian had missed his network post but took that opportunity to consider him available. Running off to find him, she's happy to see she didn't have to search for very long, even though she would easily search forever to find mama. ]

Hello!

[ She doesn't stop until she gets to the pool, where she immediately crouches down, sitting on her calves while keeping her ears open for whatever he might have to say. She wanted to look at the thing. This thing. A thing..... that stares back. WHAT A SHINY THING. ]

[forgetbeam]

[Well, here's a robot he's much happier to see. Never mind his angst in that other thread, he's not thinking about that right now. He gives a cheerful wave and grins a little as she takes an interest in the fish. TIME TO INTRODUCE THE KIDS TO EACH OTHER.]

Have you ever seen a Magikarp before? [He hadn't. Also wow Vivian have you seen any fish for that matter...

It is such an exciting Pokemon, staring with its gaping mouth and vacant eyes, lazily moving its fins back and forth in the shallow water. Wow. Amaze.]

[action]

[for_truth]

[ONE DAY Hilda enters the stadium to train, and instead finds a guy bonding with a kiddie pool. ...Waaait... Upon further inspection there's an UGLY FISH in that pool!]

Hey, is this your Pokemon?

[forgetbeam]

That's right! Isn't he wonderful?

[HE REALLY ISN'T.]

[never fear here comes the pogle studies prof to help]

[rivalkidneypunch]

You want advice raisin' a Magikarp?

Step one: flush it.

[restoring all of his lost faith in school faculty]

[forgetbeam]

What?!

You teach Pokemon Studies!! How could you encourage someone to kill one?! That isn't even a funny joke!

[cplusplus]

[He had notice Kiyotaka avoid using his left arm as of late on the recent instances they meet and chat up, but it's not Chihiro's place to ask. He is worried though, but it feels intrusive to approach the situation.

Or at least, that's what his doubts tell him, which he ignored by simply asking him one day during one of Kiyotaka's many study sessions.]

Ishimaru-kun, has your arm healed all right?

[forgetbeam]

My arm...? You mean you noticed that?

[It was. Kind of obvious. Hell, even now he's taking shaky notes with his right hand.]

It'll be fine, I'm just being careful with it!