islandshore | 24th - video/action for Olivine;

[When the feed starts up, it's upside-down, but there's a clear shot of a very angry Riku standing next to a large pile of exhausted Pokémon including a very large Charizard, Feraligatr, Nidoking, Scizor, Lucario, and a Rotom, which manages to float over to the Gear and slowly lift it up.

Riku, however, looks less than impressed.]

Get back up! You can't just sit there.

[The Pokémon groan and shift a little, but alas, they're just too exhausted to keep going.]

C'mon. You're going to keep fighting, you got that? I don't care how tired you are.

[There's a sad sounding vrrrrrm from Surge, who hovers over to Riku.]

See? If Surge can do it, so can--

[Aaaand then the Gear falls. Looks like even Surge didn't have the energy to keep going.]

Can't believe this...

[After a moment, he scoops up the Gear and shuts it off. Those in Olivine are free to see this unpleasant display. A little while after his defeat, Riku's going to be working his team incredibly hard, putting them up against each other.

Someone's a sore loser, to say the least.]

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[Riku just let it get to his head. He's had a steady stream of victories ever since his team got strong enough to handle Falkner, and he hasn't had anyone to humble him before. The fact that he lost in his very first Pokémon battle is what drove him to be such a vicious battler.

Slacker's first evolution resulted in a very angry Nidorino, all because of Riku's recklessness, and that was ages ago.

The walk to the center is a quiet one for Riku. He's too caught up in his own thoughts.]

[ The walk isn't a long one, but the silence between them is leaden and heavy. They transition to cobblestone, and then, finally, to the paved parquis of the center. As the doors whirr shut behind them, Leon looks over his shoulder and--relents with a small exhale. ]

Give me yours. I'll handle it, you go sit down.

Fine.

[He hands over the balls and takes a seat. Still, it's easy to tell that he's unhappy about this.]

[ Leon takes Riku's team to the counter along with his own, leaving the kid alone with his thoughts--and the steady supply of 'gear responses Leon is sure are pouring in. That, Leon reflects, is lecture and punishment enough.

It's roughly ten minutes later that he returns to the bench Riku is waiting at, having switched Raichu out of the PC. She huddles into the crook of his neck, her long tail wrapped like a loose necklace. ]

You're a good strategic thinker, I'll give you that. [ Now if only they had Riku's head over Sora's heart... ]

[And, again, he doesn't say anything at first, too caught up in the Gear responses, none of which are positive.

...but a compliment? Really? Guh. He'll at least mutter a half hearted--]

Thanks, I guess.

Don't be a bad sport, Riku. There's always next time.

[ He was being honest, even! He settles down calmly next to the boy to wait. Raichu 'chuu's gently at Riku, before Leon settles her down with gentle scratching. ]

[Sighing. And Leon's being so... nice to his Pokémon. It's weird to see.]

Next time, I'll be ready.

[Translation: Hardcore training session to come!]

Will you? Why do you think you lost?

[ He just continues petting Raichu, who seems to fluff his fur collar up with static electricity in exchange. ]

Because I didn't expect those traps, and my strategy was off.

[An excuse. He got too cocky is why.]

[ A soft huff. ]

No. You lost because you forgot who was doing the fighting.

Excuse me?

[Someone looks a little surprised here.]

They're not extensions of you, Riku; it's their fight, their loss and their victory. Did you hear me calling out orders back on the beach? I don't have to--they're smart enough to fight together, with or without my help. You're wasting your time as long as you don't trust them.

Then explain how I made it this far. Got all the badges, maxed out their levels. I didn't need trust for that.

Riku, why do you think a two-hundred-pound dragon--one that could just as easily snap you in half--lets you order him around in a fight?

He wouldn't even be a Charizard if I hadn't trained him. Same goes for the rest of my team; I got them this far.

[Still doesn't get it, nope.]

[ He rubs the bridge of his nose slightly. Responding to his frustration, Raichu curls tighter. ]

Riku...we're all they have. They stay in their ball unless we let them out, or they break out. They don't have a life outside of the one we give them. They depend on us not just to take care of them, but to lead them as well. You may not think of them as your friends, but I can guarantee you're the most important thing they have.

[ He pauses, tugging Raichu down from his shoulders; she lets herself slide easily into his lap, like a cat. Her tail flicks idly against Riku's knee, but whether she's listening to what's being said is difficult to tell. Leon gently rubs along her spine. His tone is...surprisingly calmer than one might expect. Resigned, maybe, like he isn't expecting much. ]

Knowing that, if you want to keep treating them the way you do, then that's your choice; just know that it's likely to have consequences.

Of course I'm the most important thing they have.

[He figured that was... pretty obvious, really. And while Leon does have some good points, Riku's pride is getting in the way of accepting his words. He's stubborn and doesn't want to just roll with it. Especially after losing that match.]

It's been more than a year without any real consequences. What's the worst that could happen?

[ Leon's mouth thins. He hadn't honestly expected that to get through to Riku, but...a guy can hope. ]

I don't know, Riku, you tell me. You've seen what they can do. [ He lets that sink in for a second. ]

Like they'd actually attack me.

[Other than Terror, but he just assumes she's got mental issues.]

24th - video/action for Olivine;

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