video, backdated to March 5

[telewarped]

Hey, losers. This has definitely been one of the months I've had so far, but now I'm officially bored to death.

[There is a general air of malaise permeating this message, even if the voice of the Pokémon sending it—a gray-toned Mimikyu, currently stationed in what appears to be one of the Oran guild's dens—sounds casual and calm enough.]

At least one of you has to have a decent rec for how to kill time around here you can give me... Or just tag yourself. Whatever.

[At the words tag yourself, an image takes shape in your mind. It's astonishingly clear and will remain present in your head until your connection to this particular Grumpearl is broken.]

Later.

Comments

[telewarped]

Yeah, I totally see that one for you.

[Actually, she can totally feel it, too: an oppressive, high-energy sensation clashing with her own, opposite energy (or lack thereof). Like an unstoppable freight train meeting an immoveable wall.]

Maybe. Ask me to my face and not onpearl, and we'll see what happens.

[That would be a "no".]

[outbounds]

[ Oh, excellent, they're a trainwreck in the making then. Won't stop, just go. She'll just get a general sense of amusement back in response to her comment that his spot on the chart is obvious; like, what else would it be, huh? He knows how he is and how he comes off.

As for the other thing... ]

Hehe. You won't bore me when I do, right?

[ He sees you, Shoka. But it's fine he won't call attention to it onpearl. ]

[telewarped]

Hell no. Now that I know how you operate, this time I'll actually derail you.

[But there isn't much real confidence behind those words. All bark and little bite.

What would she even do? Wood Hammer repeatedly until they're both taken out? Lame...]

[outbounds]

I invite you to try!

[ Please, it would make his day if she actually did. Sparring's a commonplace enough thing around the city but they need to start making battling each other an actual Thing or something with lot of them who washed up here in the storm, the Battle Facility head has zoomies. Dragons does he have zoomies. ]

[telewarped]

... Like, right now?

[That would require getting up... Sounds hard.]

[outbounds]

Doesn't have to be right now. [ You can continue to denrot right now, Shoka, it's okay. ] I just mean in general. My job involved a lot of battling.

Here, so far. Honestly? Nowhere near close!

[telewarped]

[Recommencing denrot!]

Bummer.

... What was your job anyway?

[outbounds]

Conductor. Subway Master. Battle Facility Head.

[ pick one or all three. whichever job title you like! not that just saying them explains anything outside of the obvious. ]

[telewarped]

Conductor was my first guess. You're so subtle about it.

Battle Facility Head though, huh?

[That also tracks (LOL)... but also what even is that really.]

[outbounds]

Yeeeep, figured that's the one you'd ask about.

[ because it's the term least likely to have an equivalent in a world without Pokémon as partners, or because of her previously noted interest in battling? why not both. ]

Where I come from, battling for fun is a thing that Trainers and Pokémon do. You can challenge people you meet while traveling. Perfectly normal! But that doesn't always mean you will get a serious battle from it. And if a battle is not serious, it is not fun.

So there are also places where people looking for an actual challenge can go. All very official and all. Those are Battle Facilities.

[telewarped]

Huh.

[Like an Arena in FanGO, she thinks.]

Sounds like a riot. You must be a pretty big deal where you're from, then.

[outbounds]

A lot of strong Trainers are often also public figures of some sort. At least in Unova, anyway. But the Battle Subway is pretty popular, yes. [ understatement. ] It is part of why Nimbasa is the busiest city in Unova.

[ tourism and entertainment trump business, apparently, since Castelia might be larger, but. ]

Between the musical theaters, the sports stadiums, the official Gym, amusement park, and Gear Station itself, there are always a lot of people coming and going. Something for everyone, you know.

[ in other words, yeah, probably. ]