Reverie - Ingo Palace

[derailer]

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[stirtheblood]

Heeeeh...?

[Vicious is startled to see 'Ingo' again, but he quickly puts on a defensive grin, with slightly more teeth than necessary.]

What, that's what ya think the problem with that is? Havin' too many hopes?

[derailer]

He is not keeping his cool for this reunion, already breaking his veneer of stoicism when he responds.

"Tell me, then! Tell me what the real problem is! Tell me why I'm broken!"

[stirtheblood]

[That actually cools Vicious down a bit from defensiveness into confusion.]

Huh? Who says you're 'broken?'

[derailer]

"I don't need someone to tell me what I can feel in myself. You're on a non-functioning train right now. It doesn't even matter... Whatever the many causes are. Something broken can't be so easily put back together again! I accept that I'm broken. But he doesn't! He's right back where he started, living out a delusional fantasy where he can be 'normal' if he tries hard enough! What a hollow pursuit."

[stirtheblood]

[There is a lot going on here. Vicious can at least parse that this Ingo is a different Ingo than the one in the announcement, but he can't tell exactly what he's talking about.

So, he just addresses the part that seems obvious.]

Well, you're both wrong. Ain't a matter of you bein' broken... It's the world that's broken. 'Least it is if the world workin' right right means that ya just need to do all the normal, right things and you'll get what ya want in return, 'cause you "deserve" it.

That just ain't how it works. Don't sit back and expect the world to hand ya things. And don't sit back and expect the world to not hand ya things, either. If ya want somethin', ya gotta reach out and take it.

[derailer]

The Shadow considers his argument, but wherever he tries to go with it, he ends up at the same frustration he had when he parted ways with Vicious before. It's almost as if he's an unsustainable existence and already lost the argument with the real Ingo before. But he can't give up that easily!

"Do you know why that philosophy works for you? It's because you keep your expectations low. What you want are short-term whims. If you started ripping the world apart, you would only do it for tasteless vandalism."

He pulls out an old-fashioned Pokeball.

"...I'll take you up on those short-term whims. You came here in the first place because you wanted to battle, didn't you?"

[stirtheblood]

You sure seem to know a lot about me.

[Vicious shrugs, and moves to face the Shadow from a few paces away.]

Well, you're right about that last thing, at least.

[derailer]

"Hmph... I do. I know more about you than anyone else in here does. How does it feel? To have the information so close and yet so far away?"

But the train actually starts moving again, as the Shadow throws his Pokeball and lets out a Hisuian Zoroark. Zoroark howls, haunting.

[stirtheblood]

I mean, it's pretty annoyin', but not that much more annoyin' than anythin' else about you.

[Vicious turns to his Pokemon.]

Whaddaya think? Snover, ya wanna take another shot?

[derailer]

"Childish..."

Snover is a little intimidated by the energy in here, but she nods and steps forward. Maybe she can only manage a +1 bonus, but that's okay!

[stirtheblood]

[Vicious ignores the Shadow to cheer on Snover.]

Yeah, you can do it! Show 'em what ya really got this time!!

[It is apparently more than okay, because Snover gets a 10! An even bigger moment for her!!]

[derailer]

This time Snover will remember what she learned from the other Snover. This may be another Pokemon from snow country, but if she concentrates and uses her mastery over the move, she can freeze even Zoroark in a Blizzard! She can't just use the move willy-nilly. But with focus and determination and Strong Style, she can win! Her ploy is successful. Zoroark freezes, and Snover can sigh in relief and finish him off with Energy Ball!

[stirtheblood]

Ha! Yeah! That's the stuff! That was cool as hell!

[Vicious grins at the Shadow.]

Maybe ya should wait 'til ya win before ya start callin' someone childish, huh?

[derailer]

He... sighs, recalling Zoroark to his Pokeball and sitting down on the bench.

"As if that is any marker of maturity. ...But I am tired. I made a truce with the other me. There does not seem to be anywhere left for me anymore. But this, at least, is a Battle Subway train... there are six others after me."

[stirtheblood]

Sounds like whinin' to me. Where do ya want to be?

[derailer]

There is a relatively long pause, before he simply says, "...Asleep."

[stirtheblood]

Heeeeeh...?

So take a nap if ya wanna.

[derailer]

"All right." His demeanor does seem just a little bit lighter now that he's finally found an answer. "I will do this. Good luck with the rest of the train, Great Transgressor."

He raises an arm to gesture to the door to the next car.

[stirtheblood]

Great Transgressor...?

[Vicious feels abruptly very certain that is him, but the depth of the questions he has about that are too much to even start with. Plus the Shadow just said that he wanted to have a nap. So he just shakes his head and heads for the next car.]

Won't be needin' luck, but thanks.

[derailer]

It's nice to part on vaguely positive terms this time.

You step through the door into the next car. Here, there is again only one person waiting for you: a teenage girl.

"The lead character of this story... I'll tell you who it is! It's me, of course! But someone decided to ruin his once-in-a-lifetime chance to be my love interest! And my Doubles partner!!"

[stirtheblood]

Eh? What kinda lead character shows up this late?

[derailer]

"That's so typical of him! Relegating me to a bit part! That's the whole problem!"

[stirtheblood]

What, that he don't care that much about ya? Pretty sure love interests are s'posed to have interest from both sides.

[derailer]

"Well, I'm not interested in him anymore, either! So there. I don't know why everyone is flocking to help him! Right, Mienshao?"

She sends out Mienshao, who cries out in assent.

[stirtheblood]

Well, don't ask me. I dunno either. I don't even remember the guy. I'm just here to battle.

[Vicious assesses Mienshao]

Litten, ya wanna take this one?

[It just kinda looks like someone Litten should beat]