2024-04-29: On the Nature of Strength

Log: On the Nature of Strength
Cast: Damian Tamaoka, Anne Aomori
Where: Viridian City - Emerald Way
Date: April 29, 2024
Summary: Following his upsetting encounters with Ruth Pauling, Damian turns to Anne looking for comfort and advice. The discussion turns to strength and Team Rocket, and resolutions are made.

=======================<* Viridian City - Emerald Way *>========================

Viridian City is a city of many importances; it is the major commerce and logistics hub within the Emerald Cape province, providing primary access to the western reaches of the Kanto region. It's of no surprise, then, that it sports an expansive and well-developed commercial district, with Market Way providing a wide variety of shops and goods for all walks of life. Lush and adorned with nature, Viridian's residents enjoy a spacious and relaxed environment, with most living in medium-density apartment blocks three to four stories high. The market is most recently memorably featured in the hit single by sensational Nedean-pop band 2BA, "I'm on the Road to Viridian City."

BGM: Pokemon: Let's Go, Eevee & Pikachu! - Pewter City - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yGrGjO5F6ZM

<Pose Tracker> Damian Tamaoka has posed.

Damian's most recent trip to Lunar was supposed to have been simple and straightforward. He'd been there once, now, with Anne, Ida, and Lanval, so he knew the way. He had a somewhat decent map saved on his phone, he had his pokemon to protect him, of course, and Anne had been helping him get in better shape and teach him some basic self-defense skills. (Plus, that rift didn't open up into an active warzone, which was also a plus.)

And his short forway into exploring Lunar, solo, had been pretty good. He had some phontographs of some interesting new animals, seen some interesting sights, and had listened to some street musicians play some new and unfamiliar instruments.

The problem, however, came on the way back. He'd had an encounter--well, two encounters--that had left him... unsettled, to put it mildly. He'd already taken some time to process the initial shock with Purri, but... there were still leftover feelings he needed more help working through.

And naturally, one person sprang to mind first.

> hi doctor aomori just wanted to let you know I was back in Nede
> can we talk?
> something happened and
> i dont know how to feel about it

He got the goahead to meet Anne at her apartment, and headed over there directly, hopping on a Maglev train to get there faster from the Southvoid Hills.

He looks unharmed, though... he looks a bit tired, too. His purple hair, which he still hasn't gotten a haircut for, is just long enough that he's tied it back to keep it from getting everywhere. He knocks on the door and then waits, with Purri perched on his shoulder as always.

<Pose Tracker> Anne Aomori has posed.

Rarely do things that are supposed to be simple and straightforward remain so forever. Anne won't be surprised that there were some hiccups. But what specifically happened, that might be different.

For now though, she's accepted Damian's text messages.

> welcome back!
> yes that's fine, i'm at my apartment
> you can tell me when you're here

Anne is back in Viridian City herself after some traveling last week; it's late enough now that she has left the lab for the day, and she is back at home! She's still dressed for work at this hour, minus the labcoat, so when she opens her door, she looks down and--

Smiles. "Come on in," Anne welcomes Damian, stepping back. "Make yourselves comfortable. I have some tea on."

Laqui is hanging out in the corner, and opens one large eye to acknowledge the others as they come in.

<Pose Tracker> Damian Tamaoka has posed.

Damian is otherwise in his normal trainer digs: purple hoodie, black t-shirt, baggy shorts, black sneakers, and backpack. He looks... tired, or maybe pensive while he waits for Anne to open the door, but he looks up and has a genuine smile as he sees Anne. "H-Hi, Doctor Aomori!" He steps in when invited. "Th-thank you. Some tea w-would be nice..."

At the invitation to come in he does. Purri hops down to the floor for a moment so Damian can shrug off his backpack, leaving it sitting upright against the wall by the door. Important not to let that get in the way, after all. He also shrugs off his hoodie and hangs that up, then walks over and kneels to pet Laqui. "H-hi, Laqui. N-nice to see you."

Standing up, Purri leaps up onto his shoulder and nuzzles at his cheek for a moment. Together they wander towards the kitchen. "C-can I help w-with the tea? Oh! How d-did your date go?"

<Pose Tracker> Anne Aomori has posed.

Anne is in red blouse and mom jeans. No boots; she's inside the house, after all. And she smiles back at him. "Good," she says.

Anne steps back to the bar, where she picks up the tray she'd made and brings it out to the living room table. There are two cups on it, and she pours tea into both of them. While that happens, Damian pets Laqui, and the Typhlosion smiles toothily. "Tyyy," he tells Damian.

So Anne gestures Damian towards a seat. "You can help by drinking it," she tells him. It's done! There's no more help required!

But the date gets a small, almost distant smile out of Anne, different from her usual. "It went quite well," she says. "We went to the Rose de Plage in Vermillion. He remembered how much I love seafood. And a lot of other things, besides."

"I'm seeing him again soon," Anne says. "Maybe a lot more of him after that. Though we do still have work, both of us separately..."

She doesn't press Damian to bring up whatever bothered him--yet. She may if he doesn't soon.

<Pose Tracker> Damian Tamaoka has posed.

Damian will also kick off his shoes, if Anne prefers that he does so.

He smiles as he gets that reply from Laqui, giving him a few extra firm pets before heeding Anne's invitation to join her at the living room table. All that's left to do is to drink the tea. "O-okay!" He sits--Purri hops down into his lap to curl up--and picks up his cup to raise it in a sort of acknowledgment. "Th-thank you for the tea!"

He takes a long sip, which seems to help him relax a bit. He sets the cup down for a moment, petting Purri as he listens to Anne describe the date. "Rose de Plage... w-what a beautiful name, I b-bet it was r-really romantic," he says with a quiet sigh. "I'm g-glad it went well. I h-hope you t-two can find time, w-with both your schedules..."

He knows Anne is waiting for him to get to what he needed to talk about, and he does start, though slowly. "My t-trip w-was okay, u-um... I took a l-lot of nice photos, u-um... l-listened to some n-nice music... Um... I m-met a sick Trapinch, a-and took care of her, a-and she wanted to come with me..." He pats the newest pokeball on his belt. That's a full compliment of six, now!

But the cheer at having made a new pokemon friend fades quickly when he backtracks a bit. "B-but... b-before that... um..."

Start from the beginning. Right. His voice falls a little quieter as he starts recalling the events. "U-um... wh-when I was... a-almost back t-to the rift, I s-saw..." He takes a deep breath, and Purri helps by nuzzling into his pets more. "F-four men, th-threatening s-some S-S-Silicobra."

"Pause, deep breath. "I t-tried to s-stop them, b-b-but..." He falters, again, and this time Purri gets up into proper hugging position for Damian as he wraps his arms around her. His voice goes even quieter. "A H-H-Hellion a-appeared. T-tried to w-w-warn them, b-b-but..."

He squeezes his eyes shut and leans his head down to rub his cheek against Purri's. It's a long moment before he can finish with one more sentence, deathly quiet.

"Sh-sh-she... sh-she... sh-shot th-them. Th-th-they're..."

There are some tears flowing now, and he falls silent as he works through the trauma anew. It's not hard to imagine what their fate was... though 'shot' might be a curious detail.

<Pose Tracker> Anne Aomori has posed.

She does! Shoes are for outside.

Laqui continues to laze for now, closing his eye again after Damian pets him a little more. There are no flames for now.

Anne sis down, and lifts her own cup in shared acknowledgement. "It was," Anne agrees pleasantly. "Right on the water, dim lighting without being too dark... Very good atmosphere, too."

A nod back. "Yes, I'm sure we'll manage."

There are things that came up that she might share--but not before he gets to... whatever it is that made him text her like that. So she lisens! His trip... Hmmm.

"That's good," Anne says of Trapinch. But before that--

She frowns, at first normally, and then more sharply. Four men, yes... but also a Hellion.

"That woman," Anne sighs. "Of course."

Se sets down her tea, and reaches out a hand. "Mia," she says. "It's all right. ...It might be that she saved your life," Anne admits. "Taking on four men on your own, even with Pokemon, was very dangerous, particularly off of Nede. The people there won't aim for your Pokemon--they'll aim for you."

"...But it must've been very difficult to see, all the same." She relents, long enough to show her concern. But he does have Purri.

"Mia," she says, "We can talk about it. But I need you not to put yoursself at risk like that again on your own."

<Pose Tracker> Damian Tamaoka has posed.

Damian will be delighted to hear more... but later, more than likely.

He doesn't catch the detail of 'that woman'... But Purri does, and she relents in her nuzzling for a moment to look at Anne with a curious expression. Or, half-curious, half-suspicious, from the briefest narrowing of her eyes. But all too quickly she returns to comforting Damian.

Damian reaches out to take Anne's hand and gives it a tight squeeze. "I h-h-had a p-plan," he gets out in between sobs, "P-P-Pixi w-was g-g-going to..." He lets that thought trail off, not in any state to keep pressing the issue. Instead, he just gets out a mumbled, "S-s-s... s-sorry..."

Difficult to see. Damian nods, mutely.

Eventually, he lets go of Anne's hand, so he can leave his other wrapped around Purri still. He starts trying to wipe at his face with the hem of his t-shirt. There are inifintely better options for that, but it's the path of least resistance.

"O-okay," he finally says, weakly, but starting to calm down a little. "S-s-sorry..."

<Pose Tracker> Anne Aomori has posed.

Anne looks right back to Purri without backing down. She'll mention it when she feels the time is right, and not before.

"I'm sure you did," Anne says. "But your life is very important. You should treat it that way."

A pause, then.

She reaches over, and hands him a folded napkin, for his eyes this time. "It's fine," she says. "You went through a very difficult experience. Death is not something we see often on Energy Nede. Certainly not violent death, as a rule. It's normal to have trouble with that."

A pause. "Did the Hellion give you a name? If she was using a gun instead of just claws, then she was probably one of those with 'control' that the others mentioned."

"If it was 'Ruth Pauling'... Then the authorities already know she's there."

<Pose Tracker> Damian Tamaoka has posed.

There are very few things Purri would take on for Damian's sake. Even Anne, whom Damian admires so much.

His life is very important. Damian nods quietly, still looking down. "I-I know..." he sounds remorseful, like he knows what Anne is saying he's correct. "... S-s-sorry..." he says again.

He looks up at Anne, looking plenty guilty now that she's expressed disapproval. "... w-was g-gonna r-r-run f-from... h-her th-though..."

He does accept the offer of the napkin, however, using it to dab at his eyes and cheeks. "Sh-sh-she sh-shot th-them... I-I-I... I-I-I d-didn't ask f-for th-that... Th-th-they're d-d-d..." He can't quite bring himself to finish saying that word. "... b-because of me..."

He shakes his head to the question of names. He didn't get hers, or give his. He does nod numbly to the mention of being a hellion taht could control herself. He remembers that bit. He sits up and lets Purri go. "L-l-let's sh-show h-her..."

"Purr," says Purri gently, seeming to intuit his meaning. She jumps down from his lap as Damian continues to dry his face. Purri opens up Damian's backpack and retrieves a sketchbook, holding it in her hands and walking back to the table upright. Damian takes it, and Purri hops back into his lap as he flips through the pages.

There are quite a few drawings of female anime and video game characters, as well as various outfit designs and other ephemera. There are also quite a few still lifes of Damian's various pokemon. All of them are fairly detailed, from the brief glances visible as Damian flips through them.

But most detailed of all is a pair of drawings. One of a hellion with a single wing and a large sniper rifle. She is drawn from a low angle, emphasizing her enormous stature, with lots of heavy, detailed line work and shading to really sell her menace. The long, thick shadow that creeps forward, reaching ominously for the viewer is an exaggeration... but only just.

The second is much the same, if only a little lighter, but of Ruth in her disguised form. It eschews direct menace in favor of being unsettling. Proportions are slightly off, her eyes, while avoiding the viewer don't appear to be looking in quite the same direction. One shoulder, the left, is noticeably lower than the other--not to the degree that it is incorrect, anatomically speaking, but it is just on the verge of leaving 'almost incorrect'.

There are a few tear stains on the two pages.

Damian hands over the sketchbook to Anne without explanation, waiting for her reaction while he pets Purri.

<Pose Tracker> Anne Aomori has posed.

"We all make mistakes," Anne says. "What's important is to learn from them. I'm glad at least that you were planning to run from her."

He looks guilty, but Anne doesn't follow up on that too much. She's not planning to hammer it in. Insead, though...

Instead he mentions them again. "No," Anne says. "You didn't ask for that. Was it necessary? I don't know. But I know I'd rather see you sitting here in front of me alive rather than any of them, if it was."

Necessary, or bloodthirst? Anne wasn't there; she can't know.

But 'show her', Damian says, and Anne accepts the sketchbook once it's handed to her. She does glance at it, as he flips through, but only really looks when he hands it to her.

The two forms...

"Yes," Anne says with a nod. "This is the one. Your skills are more than enough for me to be sure."

She hands the sketchbook back. "Ruth," she says. "A Hellion from Filgaia. She's come to Nede a few times, taken advantage of what we have to offer, and chosen to stay away from population centers for the most part. She's 'useful' to those in power."

"I've met her, as well. I watched her drive off some monsters from travelers."

<Pose Tracker> Damian Tamaoka has posed.

Learning from mistakes... Anne is at least happy that he was going to run from the Hellion, but... all Damian can do is nod to that.

Damian is glad to be alive, certainly... but if he'd had it to do over again, he might give serious consideration to walking away, as much as it pains him to thinik of what they might have done with the pokemon. If not for the sake of endangering his own life, then for the sake of sparing the lives of those four men.

He was there, and he still can't say.

But he waits, as Anne looks at the sketches, and then takes the sketchbook back, hugging it tight to his chest for a moment. He listens to her, as she explains... 'useful'. He makes a face at that, but instead of replying verbally he puts the sketchbook on the table and pulls out his phone. He types out a message and then shows it to Anne.

<do they know what she does??>

'They' presumably meaning those in power, and 'what she does'... well.

<people keep saying we shouldnt let drifters take care of our problems>
<even if shes 'useful' that doesnt make it right>
<having people kill for us>

<Pose Tracker> Anne Aomori has posed.

Yes, it's a start. But Anne is listening for now--and then reading, when Damian finds himself unable to speak up. She briefly considers how to respond--and then decides to let him set that pace for now.

For now, anyway. She looks to the message, and nods.

"I don't know," Anne admits. "I assume so; she has Nedian gear, and I know the government is in talks with Visitor groups for such things."

"There are some who would say it's natural to let the Visitors deal with the problems the Visitors are bringing to our doorstep, you know. What do you think of that?"

A pause.

"In the end, 'strength' is a conversation," Anne says. "Ruth has the strength and power to act the way she feels is right. We're not exercising our own 'strength' right now--we're letting whatever happens, happen."

"...Maybe they needed to die. Maybe they didn't. But I don't aim to let the Visitors be the ones to decide that on their own. Do you?"

"This is why Team Rocket is important. Those who only act within the law are ultimately controlled by those who write the laws."

<Pose Tracker> Damian Tamaoka has posed.

There was a time when Damian would force himself through the wort of his stammering, but... since spending time with Chase this has become a nice fallback. It's for different reasons for himself than for Chase, but... it's also the first time he's shown this to Anne.

Damian frowns a little, at the thought of Visitor groups being asked to do things.

<they shouldnt let the visitor groups kill people for us>

He blinks, though, when Anne mentions Filgaia's problems coming to them, and frowns in thought as he stares at his phone.



<but he was using pokemon>
<so are they trying to do things our way?>

He looks really uncertain at that thought, by the way his eyebrows are furrowed in contemplation.

Ruth is capable of exercising her power and strength... and Nede isn't. It's just letting whatever happens, happen... His frown deepens, less 'pizzled' and more 'upset' now.

<its not right>
<she didnt have to kill them>
<she could have scared them off>
<or something>

He looks up to Anne as she asks that question of him. Letting the visitors do what they want... He's met a few drifters now, and most of them have seemed nice. He likes Ida's Butterfree Sal (and so does Silci), and Josie seems fond of all of her bird pokemon... but if more visitors arrive, if they make deals with the government to solve things...

He gives a firm shake of his head.

He listens, as Anne explains about Team Rocket, and really seems to be taking that in.

<but if we dont follow the laws>
<how do we decide whats right?>

<Pose Tracker> Anne Aomori has posed.

Anne can adapt. It's one of the things she's good at. And so she adapts tto this. As he frowns, and shows her his messages, she waits for the next.

"I see."

Then, the soldier from Solaris, "Some of them are," Anne says of doing things their way. "Some of them aren't. It varies."

Damian says it's not right. Anne notices what he focuses on there, and that is someting that makes sense for him to. Still...

"Only with 'strength' can you decide that," Anne says of what's right and not right. "Otherwise, your opinions are just opinions. If you don't have the power to handle them yourself, how you prefer, then people like Ruth will handle them as they see fit."

He at least seems to be on board for the basic premise. Which is:

"We decide for ourselves. Personally, I've chosen to work with the Boss. The laws have never determined what is right or wrong; they determine what is convenient and inconvenient to those in power. What's incentivized, what's punished... They influence behavior with reward and punishment."

"'What's right'? is a question you can ask. But it's not always the correct one."

"If you're about to ask 'what is?' then you're ready to think about it."

<Pose Tracker> Damian Tamaoka has posed.

It varies. Damian nods to that. It makes sense not everyone would be on board...

He chooses not to mention that he actually spoke to that Solarian soldier, after the fact. It'd make Anne worry, and... he's not sure he could handle more disappointment right now. (Besides, that encounter was entirely an accident, so it's not really the same thing, is it?)

Maybe.

Only with strength... without the power to do things himself, his way, people like Ruth will just do things the way they want.

Or people like his parents. How many times has he tried to stand up to them? The only way he got out of there was by tricking them. If he'd been stronger, more forceful...


<even with all of my pokemon at once>
<she said she was protecting us but>


But Anne explains why she works with the Boss, with Giovanni. How the laws aren't indicators of right and wrong...

<the laws are what the government decided>
<was wrong or right>
<becayse they have the power currently>

He shows that last message to Anne with a questioning look. He's doing his best to take in what Anne is saying, put it into a framework.

<but if we had the power>
/<we could decide?>

He was, indeed, already typing out that follow-up question when Anne gets ahead of him and he stops, with the question 'what is?' half typed but not shown to Anne.

He instead backspaces and deletes it, then contemplates the empty screen for a moment.

<how do i get stronger then?>

<Pose Tracker> Anne Aomori has posed.

It might make Anne worry. But Damian doesn't bring him on, and Anne doesn't know to press that particular matter. Instead...

"Right. You probably couldn't have. She's dangerous, and she's dangerous in specific ways to you, because of her Malevolence." Anne can't assume Nedians are immune, after all. "But it's fair, not to want that."

Then he seem to get it. The questions get a nod. "That's right. Maybe you agree with some of those laws. Maybe you don't. But as long as you let yourself operate in the limits someone else set for you..."

The final question. If they had the power...

"Yes. Of course, that's more complicated than it sounds. But that's the basic principle, yes."

She pauses. "Strength has multiple dimensions. The main ingredient is practice. The second ingredient is unity. Through practice, you refine your own strength. Through unity, you combine that strength with that of others."

"That's where it's complicated; you have to combine your strength with that of people you can live with. To combine your strength with Team Rocket, and thus the Boss and myself... You have to be willing to do the things Team Rocket does. If you do, then we can be strong together."

"Going it on your own is another path. If you practice, you can get your own strength, and if you reach out to others, you might find them. Ultimately, that's up you."

"But above all, strength is habit. You learn to exert yourself."

<Pose Tracker> Damian Tamaoka has posed.

It's fine. Loren was intimidated by Purri, it all worked out. (it's not fine)

Damian nods in agreement to the threat of Malevolence.


<it feels weird>
<dunno if its spiritsight resonance or>

There is a pause before he adds the last line of that thought.

<just me>

As long as he lets himself be controlled by the laws... but defying them is easier said than done, isn't it?

He listens with clear interest as Anne explains the multiple components of power. Practice and unity... she's been helping with the practice part. Unity... he's in Team Rocket, but... he knows he hasn't really been on board with their mission. But he hasn't really found the angle he needed, yet, to see why things might need to change.

Until now.

But he nods along, taking it all in. To do the things Team Rocket does... well.

<stealing pokemon>

It's as much a question as it is a statement. He still looks conflicted on that point as he shows the message to Anne, but... maybe not quite as conflicted as he has been in the past. He's not outright rejecting it, at least. He just might need more help to get there.

He looks down at his phone, pondering what to ask next...



There's concern, when he shows that message to Anne, but... also uncertainty. He's not doubting that was said but... he's hoping Anne has an explanation.

<Pose Tracker> Anne Aomori has posed.

"It's unpleasant," Anne agrees about Malevolence. "Mostly it puts me on edge," she admits. "So it's not just you, though your reaction may be unique because of your abilities."

He mentions stealing Pokemon on his phone, and Anne nods. "That's right. That's one of the things we do. We take Pokemon from people--sometimes people who are very sad about that."

She sees his conflict... but also that he's thinking. And when he shows her the next message?

"Yes, that's correct," Anne says. "He views a lot of things as tools. And that's not all bad; you take care of your tools, and they take care of you. That kit I gave you--you take good care of it so you can use it to care for Purri, right? It's similar."

"But personally... I think that attitude itself is a useful 'tool'. The Boss is an old friend of mine. I've known for a long time that he was very ambitious. And that ambition can get us places. I'm srong, but I don't have the temperament to build an entire organization like this the way he has."

"So that attitude, of 'tools', is useful to all of us, too. It means that we can rely on him to act in the best interests of those ambitions. That he will set aside concerns that might stop you or me in pursuit of power."

"That means that we can rely on that 'power' ourselves."

"...People and Pokemon can be friends. They can also use one another. And sometimes, both of those things are true. Laqui is perhaps my oldest friend, now. And he relies on me to give him interesting situations to battle in. I rely on him for a lot, too. Some people would call this 'using' each other."

"Many things can be true at once, Mia. You'll have to decide for yourself what's true for you."

"In the end, that might be the most important thing you can do for those you care about."

<Pose Tracker> Damian Tamaoka has posed.

It's not a great feeling, to know that even in the face of such a threatening and malifnant force... he might still be weird in how he reacts to it, thanks to his gifts. He nods, a bit distressed by that thought.

<... because we want the pokemons power?>

It's an earnest question, and one he's not really sure he's gotten right, but...he is thinking about it.

He's calmed down considerably while the conversation has been ongoing, and Purri has settled down into his lap again, curled up and purring softly. But the mention of Purri makes both Damian and Purri look up, and then Damian looks down to Purri again and scritches her gently behind the ears.

But typing with one hand is a little harder, so he puts his phone down on the table for now. "Y-yeah..." he does take really good care of that kit, so he can take care of Purri. "I r-rely on P-Purri for... a lot, s-so... of course I wan to t-take care of her...." He frowns in thought, as he continues scritching behind Purri's ears.

He looks a little surprised, when Anne admits there's things even she can't do. "O-oh, huh..."

"B-building an organization... u-unity, l-like you were s-saying before... I g-guess it's hard, g-getting all of th-those people to agree, huh?"

He looks down at Purri again, thoughtfully. What does she get out of their relationship? Lots of care and attention, of course, but... she could possibly get that from anyone. Yet, she didnt choose anyone else, she chose him.

"I love P-Purri, b-but I also rely on her..." So maybe it can be multiple ways at once.

He looks up to Anne again. "S-so... wh-what does the Boss want? Wh-what d-do you want?"

<Pose Tracker> Anne Aomori has posed.

"That's one reason," Anne answers Damian. "And it's a solid one. Pokemon, whether we like to think about it that way or not, are very powerful--they're the technology and heritage of Nede, incarnate. We may need that power, if we're going to keep our world alive in the face of both new and old problems."

Anne looks down to Purri for a moment, and then back up to Damian. He starts talking again. That's good, Anne would say.

"It is," Anne says. "Personally, I don't have the patience to set something like this up; people who get on my nerves get on my nerves quickly. But I can support the organization in other ways." A pause. Hee's thinkig about it, clearly.

"Yes," Anne says. "You can love someone and also rely on them. Love is... complicated. You might understand it more when you're older, or you might not."

"I'm still getting there, sometimes."

A pause. "Well, you'd have to ask the Boss what he wants. But I want a few things. The thing I want most is a world I can expect my children to live in. A world where they can live, and grow, and fulfill their potential. Where they can be happy, instead of being frustrated at a world that won't ever really appreciate them in return."

"A world I can live in is important too, of course. I want to change our world into that one--one that's more dynamic, that can look forward, that doesn't just hide away from progress and the galaxy."

"...I also like money. There's a lot of fun things you can do when you're the one with the cash. There's no shame in having a good time. And with Whit and Sable out on their own... I admit, I'm pretty restless."

"Challenging myself against other people--against other worlds--is fun. It's important to enjoy your work."

"I've felt this way for a long time. When Giovanni invited me to his organization, I saw a chance to change Energy Nede. And now... With the worlds in disarray like this, I see more opportunity still."

<Pose Tracker> Damian Tamaoka has posed.

Pokemon are powerful, it's true. And Damian knows... there's not a lot Purri wouldn't do for him, too. Pokemon who choose their Trainers, or even just choose the people they want to be with, can be very motivated, which only makes them more powerful.

"I've b-been trying to be more s-serious about training m-my pokemon... i-if I were stronger..." Maybe handling four poachers wouldn't be too much for hin.

"Wh-what are... s-some other reasons...?"

He looks up to Anne for a moment. "I'm... n-not... getting on y-your nerves, r-right...? I know y-you've been helping me a l-lot, a-and I'm really t-trying..."

He nods, as Anne says she's still getting there.

Anne wants a different world for her children, one that's more dynamic for them to thrive in. Damian considers that for a moment. He considers her, as he thinks about Sable... "A-are you sure Sable w-would be okay w-with it, if you made a w-world this way, f-for her? Sh-she didn't exactly s-seem pleased th-that I was in Team R-Rocket..."

More dynamic... it's certainly been interesting, with Filgaia and Lunar showing up on their doorstep, hasn't it? Damian nods to that.

As for cash... Lots of fun things to do... "L-like buy n-nice g-grooming kits..." He didn't turn it down, and he's been making very good use of it, in fact.

"Opportunity...?"

He looks down at Purri again, continuing to pet her, and soak up the purring, as he contemplates. "I-I'd like a world wh-where... p-people c-could be themselves. Wh-where Alice w-wouldn't have to g-give up her title, wh-where I..." He falls silent for a moment and doesn't finish that thought.

It's a big, heavy thought, and he's still mulling it over in his head.

<Pose Tracker> Anne Aomori has posed.

"It's a start," Anne says, and it' like she can guess what he's thinking the way she lifts an eyebrow at him at the last part. "Maybee."

"Money, mostly," she says of the other reasons, and shakes her head at the question of annoyance. "You're not. I don't mind helping you out."

But Sable... Anne actually grins at that one. "You know," she says, "Apprently Sable's been talking about you," she says. "She really doesn't like it at all." A beat, "I'll find out for myself sooner or later. I raised her to be independent. So if she doesn't like it, I'm sure she'll tell me so."

He sure didn't turn that down. But 'opportunity'. "Yes. There's more ways to change a world with other worlds involved. They've been learning from us; what can we learn from them?"

She considers Damian again for a few moments, as he contemplates. As he gets close to saying something...

"You have time to think about it," Anne says, a little more gently. "But that's a good thing to want."

<Pose Tracker> Damian Tamaoka has posed.

Can she read his mind? Anne never said she didn't have psychic powers, did she? He's used to Joy's powers, but... they go back a long way, too. He looks a little guilty at that, though. "I p-promise I won't t-try right away! B-but..."

There is some firmness, some resoultion in his voice finally. "I w-want to get s-stronger, too..."

Oh, money. Right. He should have expected that. But he looks relieved, when Anne confirms he's not an annoyance. I'm g-glad..." IT's not really a secret how much he looks up to Anne, even if he never voices it in those words.

Damian pales a little bit as Anne reveals that. "Sh-sh-she has...?" Despite his determination to become stronger, he actually shrinks back a little. "Wh-what is sh-she saying...?"

Filgaia and Lunar are learning from Nede, so what can Nede learn from them? He contemplates that. "Th-they do th-things a lot d-differently..."

He knows Anne is only addressing the part he said out loud, that's all she could address, but... he still smiles, wanting to believe she's approving of that thing he didn't say, too. "G-good, I'm g-glad..."

<Pose Tracker> Anne Aomori has posed.

"Then you will," Anne answers, noticing that resolution. "But take it a step at a time. You can learn from any fight you can walk away from." But not from the othres, presumably. Still--

Anne is not annoyed. And Damian pales, and shrinks back, and that covers that subject just fine for now. "Mostly that she plans to fight you about it. It's good; you could do much worse for a rival. You'll just have to make sure not to disapppoint her."

But they do things differently. "Their societies haven't calcified yet. There's something important there--something we might be able to pick up, even if it's not obvious."

She sets her teacu down, when he says he's glad. "Well, good. ...I'm expecting a call shortly," she says then. "Why don't you hang out with Laqui and Purri for a while?"

<Pose Tracker> Damian Tamaoka has posed.

Damian nods and smiles a little more as Anne responds to his resolve. "R-right."

"Sh-she plans..." He looks a little confused at that. "I'm s-still not sure I g-get the wh-whole rival thing... I th-thought she w-was already disappointed..."

Haven't calcified... "O-okay, I'll p-pay attention, wh-when I'm on Filgaia o-or Lunar..."

Damian smiles wider and nods, patting Purri on the back. She jumps up to his shoulder as he stands up. "O-okay. A-and m-maybe after, I c-can show you s-some of the pictures I t-took!" He picks up his sketchbook and retreats back to Laqui and the couch. He makes himself comfty on the couch, with Purri by his side, and starts to organize his photos on his phone as he waits for Anne to be done with her phone call.

2024-04-29: On the Nature of Strength

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