whitehairedprettyboy

Are you in Goldenrod City today?

[ Oh. It sure is the boy. It sure is the boy texting him for... some reason. He's still a little wary, but he supposes after the tea and the whole spa conversation he can at least trust him to carry out a few texts without trying to kill him again.

Also, of course he's in Goldenrod. He's never not in Goldenrod. ]

I am indeed. Did you need to see me for something?

I owe you an explanation that I couldn't give to you earlier. You can pick when and where we meet, if you're worried about me attacking you.

[It's a reasonable concern, and he'd want the same if he were in Valmont's shoes, after all.]

[ He is a little worried about that, as it happens. Especially since without the talismans, he can't exactly defend himself - but then, the boy doesn't have whatever powers he had that day, either. If it comes down to it, it'll be Pokémon on Pokémon, and he's sure his are quite good enough to take the boy's on. Maybe.

He names a cafe near his apartment as their appointed rendezvous location, and an hour or so from now as the meeting time. ]

And do bring some money of your own, won't you, Mr. Kureshima? I certainly don't plan on treating you.

Edited 2015-01-14 07:01 (UTC)

I understand.

[He arrives at the cafe precisely five minutes before the appointed time. He scans the area, looking for potential trouble spots, but doesn't see any - aside from all of the trainers around, of course. But he has a feeling that they're not allies of Valmont, and so he relaxes just a hair. He doesn't have any of his Pokemon out - not that it would take him long to summon them, but half a second is more than enough time to decide a battle. He looks around for Valmont, hands at his sides and out of his pockets.]

[ Yeah, that would require the guy to have any allies.

Valmont happens to be armed to the teeth when he arrives, figuratively speaking. That is, all three of his Pokémon are accompanying him: his Servine in the lead, flanked by his Stunky and a newly evolved Gothorita.

The Stunky looks up and yips happily once she realizes exactly whom they're meeting. Can Micchy's Vulpix come out and play? The Servine glares; the Gothorita does too, a bit less intensely. ]

Ah, Mr. Kureshima. I trust you're well?

[He nods, and looks to his array of Pokemon. He's not too worried about any of them, but he does frown slightly at the Stunky. He's not very eager to pull out any Pokemon that might be considered a threat right now. He waits for Valmont to sit down before he does, as well.]

I've been doing all right. Busy with... projects.

[Projects that shouldn't be spoken of when there's non-Team Rocket people around.]

And yourself?

[ No Vulpix? Stunky's tail droops, but Valmont gives her a stern look and she doesn't press the matter. ]

Oh, much the same. I've been busy with work. [ Grunt work, of course. He still has to figure out how to rise through the ranks of this bloody organization. ] And training this thing. [ He gestures at his Gothorita, who looks a bit put out at that description of himself. ] I didn't know it would turn out quite so... feminine, did you?

I've never seen that one before, but from what I understand there are a lot of Pokemon that look... one way and are another. Or don't look like any sort of recognizable gender. But they're not human, so I suppose that makes sense.

[He has no idea what Absols are supposed to be an equivalent to.]

Well, it's unnatural.

[ The Gothorita huffs. He's perfectly natural! You're unnatural! ]

Now, what was it you were planning to tell me? Or would you prefer to wait until after we've ordered?

[Of course you are, Gothorita. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise.]

[Micchy looks down before looking back up at Valmont.]

... How much do you know about mythology? Or, at the very least, are you familiar with the idea of the "forbidden fruit"?

That would depend entirely on which mythology you are asking about. [ He's gotten up far too close and personal with Chinese mythology for his liking, after all. ] But I assume from your second question that we are discussing Judeo-Christian mythology, in which case: yes, I'm quite familiar. You're a religious man, then, Mr. Kureshima?

Not at all. But the fact that you know it proves a point - this fruit, whether it shows up in Judeo-Christian mythology, Norse, Greek, or whatever other mythology - is something that many religions have in common. Have you ever wondered why?

... Because, at least in my world, it's real. It's a fruit, yes, but more than that it's something truly powerful. Once a world has been devoured by something called the Helheim Forest, the person who possesses it decides what to do with the world. Remake it? Destroy it completely? Or something else?

[ Well, it's a good thing talking to that pleasant young man from the demon-infested world has prepared him to deal with the topic of worlds in which religion is reality. Though given all the other weirdnesses that apparently exist in his own world, he supposes it isn't out of the realm of possibility that it might be one of them. ]

So in your world, there exists a real, tangible forbidden fruit that allows one to control the fate of worlds. And this had to do with your attacking me... how?

I'm getting to that.

[Sometimes you have to stop to breathe, Valmont. Seriously.]

The Helheim Forest has a number of fruits. A... researcher from my world found a way to turn those fruits into items that allow someone to transform, in order to have a better chance at fighting the monsters that appeared.

... I thought that if those things had appeared again, maybe there was a chance to win the Fruit here. And since only those who could fight survived... well. You were a tempting target to take out in order to reduce the competition.

[Nothing personal. Maybe.]

[ He is not a patient man. ]

You transform... using fruit.

[ Nope, doesn't sound any less ridiculous when he says it. ]

Does this have anything to do with that absurd getup you were wearing?

I know it sounds stupid. I thought it was stupid, too. And yes, it does. That's the Hell Fruit Lockseed. It transforms me into that particular armor, though I had others at home.

You're quite right, you know. It is stupid.

[ He takes a sip of his tea, which has arrived. Of course he ordered tea. Of course he did. ]

Well, I suppose I can understand wanting to take out the greatest threat. It's just that I don't appreciate it when I'm the one being taken out, you understand. At least now you realize that I'm the more powerful of the two of us, I hope?

[ Not when you don't have the talismans on you, you're not. ]

[He huffs in amusement, sipping on a water. He's not really in the mood for tea right now.]

I'd think that both of us are somewhat evenly matched without abilities.

[ There is no such thing as "not in the mood for tea" in Valmont's world. ]

Are we?

[ He raises an eyebrow. ]

How are your hand-to-hand combat skills, would you say, Mr. Kureshima?

[Yes but you are disgustingly British, Valmont.]

Pretty fair. But I'm a lot more agile than I look. I spent a long time in a dance team, and fighting monsters has improved my reflexes even without the aid of transforming.

[Siiiiip.]

[ Truer words never spoken. ]

Is that so? I suppose we shall have to spar at some point, then, shan't we. [ Privately, he thinks the boy doesn't stand a chance, not against himself, but who knows. Maybe he'll surprise him yet. ]

We'll see.

[He grins into his cup for a brief moment before returning to the conversation.]

But you can see why that explanation was not exactly one I wanted to talk about around a large group of people.

Oh, I can indeed see why. You'd be a laughingstock.

[ He's still not over the bit about using fruit to transform. Fruit, seriously? ]

Still. Your telling me is... appreciated. As is the fact you'll not be pulling any stunts like that in future.

[ He didn't actually say he wouldn't, V. ]

Was there anything else you wished to discuss, while we're here?

[He sighs. Shut up about the fruit. It's not his fault Ryouma is weird. But if Valmont wants to assume things he never actually promised and therefore doesn't have to follow through on, that's fine.]

Yes, actually. Where did you get those talismans you were holding?

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