Level 18 [Video / Action for Goldenrod.] AROMATHERAPY FRIDAY

[rocketralph]

[ACCIDENTAL VIDEO]

_{[Ralph is furiously tapping away at his 'gear and has accidentally turned the camera on. Enjoy a worm's eye view of the guy's chin and thumbs and little else. He's outside, seated on a bench somewhere in Goldenrod's shopping district and ranting to someone.]}

And you know what really crosses my wires? They had the nerve to keep on pretending! I don't know about you, Wrath, but I'm sick and tired of this whole Johto-wide charade of everyone pretending like they aren't from a video game! I can't be the only one that remembers! I can't be the only one who didn't get his code scrambled!

I think they're all kiddin' themselves! So what if there's no quarter alert? So what if we can't see the screen and nobody knows where the tram is! That doesn't mean we should all pretend to be real!



[ACTION FOR SOME BAR IN GOLDENROD]

_{[After a long, exhausting day of arguing, it's easy to find the big guy with some empty glasses at his elbow tucked away in whatever dimly lit corner he could find. He has a Lot to think about.]}

Comments

[garbagechild]

_{[He lets his arms drop to his sides again and tilts his head, lapsing back from his CREEPY INTERLUDE or whatever that had been.]}

What's turbo?

Re: [video]

[ojamameansfamily]

...Yuh-huh.

[Well, suddenly this all makes much more sense. He's talking to an insane person.]

You know that's not ACTUALLY possible, right? Just cause there's crazy-good VR and AI tech doesn't mean the characters are ACTUALLY alive or something, it's all just computer code.

[rocketralph]

Yeah, I'm startin' to think I'da been better off staying in bed.

[Video]

[rocketralph]

Well I don't exactly hang out with anybody...I mean. I didn't! Now I do. I have more friends than I know what to do with and it's actually a little overwhelming.

I didn't mean to say that.

[rocketralph]

Turbo is when you hop outta your own game, defy your programmin', and try to take something that's not yours. Kinda like I did, only I feel justified because I didn't wanna steal the spotlight or hurt anyone, I just wanted a little cake and maybe to shove Gene's words back down his throat--

_{[He cuts himself off and looks startled.]}

Ah...y-y'know what, kid? You do you.

[video]

[rocketralph]

_{[It seems Ralph has met his polar opposite as far as his concept of reality goes.]}

Keep tellin' yourself, that, Goomba!

[Video]

[callbacks]

Story of my life, man. I mean, the not meaning to say shit. Actually, I guess maybe the other thing, too. Fuck. That sounded less sad before I said it with my mouth.

[crouching_sin]

Or just started drinking earlier. Though I suppose that wouldn't have worked while I was at work. ... My Gardevoir is already going to be upset that I went out drinking anyway.

Re: [video]

[ojamameansfamily]

I don't NEED to tell myself anything, that's just how it IS.

[Pay no attention to all the card spirits in this young man's future.]

Seriously man, it's all just, like, pre-programmed responses to input.

[garbagechild]

_{[Wrath listens with the same attentive intensity that he always does, but as is also frequent, he looks like half of it sailed completely over his head.]}

I don't have a game.

Games have rules.

I just like to play, rules make playing a lot harder.

And anyway, he wasn't using that arm and leg. He was trading them for something else and he got what he asked for.

[Video]

[rocketralph]

I think this is gonna be one of those days.

[rocketralph]

'Least your Pokemon are lookin' out for you, right?

[video]

[rocketralph]

Don't you talk to ME about programming, kid!

[Video]

[callbacks]

Yeaaahhh, seems to be going around. Good luck with, you know. The managing of it and all.

[Video]

[rocketralph]

Thanks, kid.

[rocketralph]

<sub>[Oh NINTENDO this conversation is not going where he thought it was going to. WHAT KIND OF GAMES ARE PEOPLE MAKING THESE DAYS!? It doesn't sound like anything he's heard of before. Ralph is almost certain now that Wrath had gone Turbo before getting trapped here...whether he knew it or not. The last time he met anything as dedicated as he was was...Cybugs.]

[Is Wrath a Cybug?]</sub>

I-is that so? Well! Huh!

[crouching_sin]

I suppose that's true, but I don't exactly need a mother.

[rocketralph]

_{[He shrugs and waves the bartender over to bring him another glass.]}

Seein' as you got beaten up by a sheep, you need somebody. I didn't mean to say that.

[crouching_sin]

If this place didn't take away my abilities, it would be mutton by now.

[garbagechild]

_{[THE TINIEST, SMELLIEST CYBUG.]}

It's true.

He was breaking a LOT of rules. That's why he lost the arm and leg.

Finders keepers, losers weepers!

_{[Delighted with his own sparkling wit, he throws his head back and cackles like a little hyena, rocking in his seat.]}

[rocketralph]

_{[Ralph can only watch in horror. He thinks about Lust and the others from her game. And worries. He worries a lot.]}

Heeeeeey, why don't we play a game?

[garbagechild]

_{[He switches gears quicker than a really expensive mountain bike.]}

--a game? I like games!

[rocketralph]

_{[Ralph leans forward, his hands on his knees.]}

Alright, it's called Let't Never Talk About This Again.

[garbagechild]

... Oh. Okay.

_{[AND THAT'S THAT.]}