2024-05-04: Coming Out

• Log: Coming Out
• Cast: Damian Tamaoka, Anne Aomori
• Where: Viridian City - Emerald Way
• Date: May 04, 2024
• Summary: The day after their failed operation on Lunar, Anne discusses how Damian did, and teaches Damian more of Team Rocket's philosophy. Damian takes it in, and then has something important to share with Anne.

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=======================<* 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.

Yesterday had been... difficult. But not, upon reflection, as difficult as it had been in the past. Damian had mostly stood his ground, ordered his pokemon to do what was necessary, and did his part to keep the mission going.

They didn't succeed, but... he'd tried.

And Silci had evolved, so that was a plus.

Anne had ordered him to go sleep things off, and he had... mostly managed that. A lot of thoughts had kept him up.

Rena and Dirk challenging him on different ways to do things. Maybe there were, but... it all just came down to strength, right? He'd either be strong enough to change things, or they would, and he'd just have to get stronger to show them he meant business.

Timu and Hooligre's feelings... No, that one he couldn't think about too much, but he wasn't going to apologize.

The sorceress, Mazhigigika Miludin do Din Nolurun Dou, and her attempts first heist their heist and then offer... advice? Why would she be offering advice, of all things? But even so... he'd spent a lot of time thinking about her words, too.

Sleep it off and come back the next day. So for whatever amount of sleep he could get, he showed up at Anne's the next day, mostly rested, and in his normal garb of a hoodie and shorts. Silci is in his lap, trilling happily as Damian tends to her wings. Damian is smiling as he uses ome of the tools from his seluxe grooming kit to give those colorful wings an extra shine of vibrant color.

He's mostly calm, curious to see what Anne will say of his performance, and with something else clearly weighing on his mind, too.

<Pose Tracker> Anne Aomori has posed.

It was quite the outing! Anne rode the high of the fight through the trip back, which was helpful because she was also quite sore. It didn't prove nearly as difficult for her, despite the unabashed failure(?) of their mission. But she did notice the troubles that Damian had. She elected to have him sleep it off... and now, the next day--

Anne sets down her coffee and sits down. Laqui continues to laze with Purri for the moment, but Anne looks oer Damian as she sits, considering him, his demeanor, what's clearly on his mind...

"You did well," she says. "No more leaving Hyper Potions this time, hm?"

"Don't worry about the failure. That part isn't as important. What's important is doing your best. Trust that we have a plan."

"...But you could do to hesitate less; I know your friends get to you, in how they feel, but if you're going to stick with us, you'll have to learn to thicken your skin about it. You make your choices, and they make theirs, and you fight it out. That's how it works."

She smiles faintly. She is in jeans and a loose red top, with her usual glasses and chunky earrings.

"If you fight with conflict in your heart, your Pokemon will notice--and get confused."

Silci looks lovely, of course.

<Pose Tracker> Damian Tamaoka has posed.

Damian's intent on his task, but he blinks and looks up to Anne, smiling at the compliment. "Really?" And then he blushes, nodding and looking down. "R-right..." Definitely no more leaving those behind. Even if the Nedian custom is to leave behind FOL when you lose a duel...

Well, they're Team Rocket. The whole point is to bust out of the conventions, isn't it?

He nods as Anne explains that the plan is the important thing. "Right. I tried to keep focused on that, b-but I just c-couldn't get all of the discs on in time..." He sighs a little at that, but the fact that he's a little disappointed he didn't succeed is still progress, of a kind.

He looks to Anne and nods at thickening his skin. "I'll try. I j-just..." He sighs. "I w-was ready for th-them being mad, b-but..." But Timu had been something else. He looks down at his lap again. "I'm n-not sure th-they want to be my friend a-anymore anyway..." he says with a little shrug.

Conflict in his heart... Damian looks up to Silci, who is looking back at him with her big wide eyes. "Th-they're still following me..." He looks to Purri. "Purri w-was ready to attack Fuecoco for me..."

He draws in a deep breath. "R-right. I can't let th-them down, either."

He finishes with Silci's wing, and she takes off and does a little pirouette in midair. "Beautifly!" All of her scales on her wing shimmer with an extra glow.

Damian smiles at her. "Y-you're really pretty, Silci..."

<Pose Tracker> Anne Aomori has posed.

FOL is fine. But Hyper Potions are very expensive! "Yes, really. You stayed on task, you didn't run, and you fought as hard as you could."

But then, "Don't worry about the discs. To us, they're nothing. To them, they might be worth something. Consider it a consolation prize for them since they didn't get to 'arrest' us after all, heh heh."

"Right. It's difficult; you're young, too, and you want people to like you. But ultimately, your convictions are more important than whether people like you. ...They might indeed not want to be your friend anymore--especially that Timu. And you have to decide if you're all right with that."

"They are," Anne agrees. "Purri in particular will do anything for you. But eventually, the strain may show; when your Pokemon look to you for guidance, you need to be able to be firm and resolute."

But... Beautifly! "She is very pretty," Anne agrees. "Good work with her."

A pause. "You're different from most of our operatives; most of our operatives just take the Pokemon we give them and hope for 'better ones', without thinking that if they trained the ones they have, they could become those 'better Pokemon'. ...Well, it's why some people stay Grunts forever, I suppose. Useful, but not bright."

<Pose Tracker> Damian Tamaoka has posed.

Damian doubts Anne would approve of regular potions either, so doesnt even bother asking. He's trying to get more in line with Team Rocket's thinking, anyway.

Damian nods. That kind of consolation prize... "Right." That's true, they did escape being arrested, and the method they used... "That trick w-with the smoke bomb was r-really good... well, all of y-your moves were amazing! Is that th-the kind of stuff Nina is l-learning?"

Bring friends, or convictions... Damian weighs that for a long time, looking down at his lap until he looks back to up Anne. "If... if I want to ch-change things... then... I c-can't let go of my convictions... If I c-can't make them understand, th-then..."

Damian looks over to Purri, napping comfortably against the warm fire type. "I'd be s-so lost without her... I'm r-really lucky I have her." He looks to Anne and nods. Firm and resolute. "I'll keep g-getting better at it," he says with some confidence.

A big smile as Anne compliments his work with Silci. "Th-thanks!" Silci flies over to Anne and does another little midair twirl so she can get a better look. "Th-that kit is really handy..."

Unusual compared to most of their operatives... "R-really...?" Anne explains, and Damian blinks a little, thinking back to the fight... "Th-they had way more Z-Zubats and Rattatas th-than that one Sprigatito, and it took them a r-really long time to catch it..." He looks to Anne. "I guess... I a-always wanted to r-raise pokemon, a-and now I'm doing it, th-thanks to you, and t-to Team Rocket..."

Silci flies back over to him, and Silci alights on Damian's arm for a moment. "It t-took some time... b-but with a lot of encouragement, sh-she came out of her cocoon..."

Don't think about the metaphor there too much, for a moment.

Useful, but not bright. That's... a little mean, but... Not everyone can be in charge... right?

He glances aside a little. "Sooo... how do you become something other than a Grunt...?"

<Pose Tracker> Anne Aomori has posed.

"Thanks," Anne says of her moves. "It's good to actually use them for something more than practice and demonstration." A beat, "Yes, not all of the same things, but the same kinds of things." She taught Nina a number of things too.

"That's right," Anne says. "But it's more than just changing things. That girl, Rena, was right--there are other ways to change things besides Team Rocket's way. To do things our way, you'll have to get comfortable taking what you want, not just what you need. Part of our philosophy is learning to embrace your desires more. You'll notice I didn't try to moralize with our dear 'heroes'--I let them think what they like."

"Good," Anne says. "And you are. But she's lucky to have you, too."

Twirl...! "That's great," Anne replies, smiling. "I can see you're makin ood use of it."

"To be fair to them," Anne says, "It's hard to do a Pokemon battle in the cab of a truck, even against one Pokemon that isn't very strong. That's why they only get a hundred pushups each."

Out of her cocoon. Yes. "It's important, to fulfill your potential--to become what you want to be. Regardless of where you do it."

But then, "You work hard, and you get noticed. If you can embrace Team Rocket's philosophy, you might go farther. It'll lose you more friends, probably... but you can make new friends, too."

<Pose Tracker> Damian Tamaoka has posed.

"That's really c-cool! Assisting the d-deceased is important, b-but..." He sighs. "... not always easy for me, b-because..." Well, Anne knows more about his issues, now. No need to get into that.

Damian listens intently as Anne explains more of Team Rocket's philosophy. There are other ways, but... he's here, with Anne, and his other friends. He looks thoughtful at that, considering... "Th-there are a lot of things... I've a-always wanted... b-but never gotten to do..." he admits. Some of them are, admittedly, a bit more complicated than others...

She didn't try to moralize with the Heros. He nods to that. Lesson noted for next time.

He does smile at that thought, glad to know he can do something for Purri, even as she does so much for him. "You th-think so...?"

Hard to have a battle in those conditions. "True..." But only a hundred. Damian blinks, but nods. Memo to self: never upset Anne.

What he wants to be... and he just can't get away from that thought, can he? He turns contemplative for a moment more, looking at his lap as he gets distracted for a moment or two. Something is definitely on his mind, there...

Working hard, embracing Team Rocket's philosophy... and all that getting what he wants will cost him is more friends, or at least the existing ones... but maybe make more.

He's never had a great track record with friends other than Peace or Joy. He can probably handle that, right...?

"... Okay," he says, still distracted by something. After a few more moments, he looks up to Anne again, giving Silci a gentle toss up so she'll flutter off of his arm and take up an alternate perch on the couch. "Doctor Aomori? There's s-something I want to tell you about..."

<Pose Tracker> Anne Aomori has posed.

"It is important," Anne agrees, "But you don't have to do it just because you have the talent for it. ...Especially given your troubles with the same. There are other ways to live."

How would she feel, if Sable or Whit hadn't wanted to follow her traditions? Maybe not good... but she's sure she wouldn't act as Damian's parents have.

"Then think about those. We might be able to make them happen. We don't want people who can't embrace our ideals--operatives who apologize about it all the time don't get the job done."

Still, Purri and Damian? "I'm sure of it."

Damian may be subject to pushup rules eventually. If he works hard enough that Anne expects such things out of him. But not yet.

Something on his mind...

"All right," Anne says, setting down her coffee and facing Damian. "By all means. Go ahead."

<Pose Tracker> Damian Tamaoka has posed.

Damian might hve been less resistant to embracing his gifts if he'd been given the time and space to cope, but as it is... it's turned into a gnarled mess of anxieties and worries he's not sure he'll ever untangle.

But who could say no to being a ninja? Ninjas are way awesome!

"I know, b-but... it's a part of me too... I'll need to l-live with it, especially if I fight anyone w-with Ghost type pokemon..."

Apologizing for things comes naturally to him, sometimes... he'll have to get used to not doing that, too. "Okay."

But they get to the big matter, and Damian takes in a deep breath to steady himself. From the Nap Corner an ear flicks up from Purri, and in the next moment she is up, taking a loooong stretch. Then she jumps up to the arm of the couch, and from there to Damian's side, headbutting him for extra moral support.

Damian smiles down at her and reaches out to scritch at her ears. She knows this; she's known it longer than anyone.

"S-so... um... Thank you, for... for c-calling me Mia. I know I said it w-was just a nickname, but, it really means a lot to me. M-more than just a nickname. It's..."

He looks down to Purri for a moment, who mrowrs and nuzzles at his side with a purr for encouragement. He smiles, and looks up to Anne again. He takes a deep breath, and his voice is former. "The truth i-is... I want-- no. I am a girl."

"A-and I want to start living as one."

<Pose Tracker> Anne Aomori has posed.

It's pretty great, being a ninja. "You will," Anne agreees, need to live with it. "You'll have to figure out how, one way or another."

And not apologizing, too.

Laqui looks up as well, peering after Purri and then Damian as Damian speaks. And what Damian says, then...

It would be possible to say 'I figured', given other reactions Mia has had. But Anne doesn't. Instead, she smiles back at her. "All right then," she says. "That's a want that I can help you fulfill."

"I appreciate you being willing to share something so personal. How do you want to do it? I'm not that kind of doctor, of course, but I'll support you in this."

<Pose Tracker> Damian Tamaoka has posed.

To be fair, Mia hasn't exactly subtle about it, sometimes... And, well, she's been unguarded enough around Anne that she's probably let a lot more slip than she ever really intended.

Such ask asking Anne to call her by a girl's name, for starters.

She's doing her best to be determined, that there was a tension that suddenly releases all at once when Anne acknowledges what she says. And a really big, happy smile.

"Thanks."

There are some parts of that want that she doesn't need Team Rocket's help to fulfill. But other parts of it...

Wellm, Anne said it was okay to want things, right?

Anne appreciates it too, and there is something a little more relaxed and easy about her smile now. Thanks, for l-listening. I've b-been... /really/ nervous, t-to tell anyone else." No points for guessing who was first and second. As for the how... "W-well.." She takes a deep breath to gather her thoughts. "Well... I'm p-pretty sure my pronouns are she/her, and... I'm s-still thinking about the name. I l-like Mia, it's c-cute, but... It d-did come from my old name, s-so..." Eventually she might want to change it. "But I'll keep using it, u-until I think of something I like b-better."

She actually giggles a little at not that kind of doctor. "I know. A-and I've been reading up on th-that part, but for right now..."

She looks down at Purri, scritching her ears. "B-be right back." She stands, grabs her backpack, and heads into a bathroom... and she comes back a few minutes later. Her hair, which had reached just enough length to be tied back is untied and brushed out, falling down to frame either side of her face. She's stashed the hoodie and is just wearing the black t-shirt underneath, and... a bright pink skirt.

Mia sits down and sighs happily. "There. F-for the rest... I'm s-still figuring that out."

<Pose Tracker> Anne Aomori has posed.

Anne is very perceptive--it's part of their relationship already. But she'd been waiting for Mia to come out with it herself, rather than assuming she was right.

"You're welcome"

"...That's fair. It's a big change. It's natural to be nervous about that. But it's entirely normal; I have a number of friends who've transitioned."

"Whatever you decide, I'll be happy to call you. For now i'll stick with 'Mia'."

She's been reading up on it. Anne smiles back. "Good for you. And sure."

She waits for Mia to come back, sipping her coffee. Laqui looks at her. Anne nods. "She's a good kid," Anne says. "Not sure how well she's taking to our ways, but it's nice to see her growing."

She smiles at Purri. "You take good care of her."

But then Mia comes back. Anne looks her over. "Cute!" she declares. "I'll want to know if you plan to tell anyone else, of course--so I know how to refer to you when I talk about you."

A smile. "But I'm happy for you. And, well... I happen to think I'm very good at being a woman, so I'm happy to help you learn to express yourself better."

<Pose Tracker> Damian Tamaoka has posed.

"Y-yeah, it is..." She lights up at that tidbit though. Anne knows people... "Really? Cool!"

She smiles and nods as Anne agrees to call her Mia. Even if it does come from her old name... it's still really cute.

Purri sits up as she waits for Mia to get back. Her ear flicks a little as she listens to to Anne talk to Laqui... and then when Anne addresses her in turn, the feline smiles, pretending to buff her claws against her chest with a confident, "Purr, purrloin." She's got this.

She's not lacking in confidence, that's for sure.

Mia smiles and does a little turn for Anne when she comes back in, beaming at being called Cute. "Thank you!" She checks her skirt when she sits, and ponders that question. "W-well... M-maybe Jessie and James..." She's pretty sure they'd be cool with it. "And... m-maybe Edgar? If you two a-are seeing m-more of each other, th-then... that'll be less awkward if I happen to run into you both, r-right?"

"I sh-should tell more of my friends, b-but..." There is a small frown there, as she considers it, but then she tries to shrug it off. If she thinks about that too long it'll bring down her mood, which is the last thing she wants right now.

"Y-you mean it?" Mia brights up even more. "I'd really appreciate it! Alice and Nami a-are great, but..." They're worried about different things. And Joy is trying to get away from what Mia is heading towards.

<Pose Tracker> Anne Aomori has posed.

Anne knows many people!

Purrloin has this. It's fine. But Mia returns, and turns, and then sits down. As she thinks about it Anne says, "Oh, they would be fine," Anne is sure. "Edgar would, too. That's a smart idea; I plan to spend a lot more time with him upcoming." Once they can sort out their mutual work schdules, anyway. Hers will be easier soon...

"Then should I still refer to you by your old name to anyone else?"

A pause. She does seem to have trouble. Anne doesn't press on 'other friends' for now. Instead--

"I do," Anne says. "I think after raising one girl I can manage to advise a second," she adds dryly. But... They are worried about different things.

"But yes, really."

<Pose Tracker> Damian Tamaoka has posed.

Purri smiles up to Mia when she sits, and moves to curl up in her lap. Mia, of course, obliges her with lots of petting.

Jessie and James were very supportive when she was less sure of things, so that really helped. And Edgar is a good idea as well.

She nods, though, to the matter of other people. "Yeah... f-for now." She contemplates for a moment as she continues to pet Purri. "I'll... have to c-come out for Team Rocket stuff too, huh...?" She frowns a little, at that, as she turns it over in her head. "... is, um..." She glances to the side a little, feeling a little silly for even asking. "there a... recommend way, t-to do that...?"

After raising one girl... that's true, Anne's raised Sable, who... currently isn't happy with her. "T-telling all the p-people who aren't happy w-with me for being in Team Rocket will be... weird," she reflects.

<Pose Tracker> Anne Aomori has posed.

For now, then, that's how it is. "Eventually that would be best," Anne answers as to Team Rocket business. "Hmm. Show up at the office dressed appropriately, mostly. It's not strange enough that anyone is likely to do more than double take until they realize what's going on."

A pause. "It won't be pleasant necessarily," Anne says, "But not because of this--this part is as simple as 'call me Mia.'"

<Pose Tracker> Damian Tamaoka has posed.

"O-oh, right, that makes sense..." Just show up presenting to the office. That makes sense, totally. But Mia was thinking something different... "Though... I meant more like... i-if I'd been out yesterday... y-you know, during our operation...? I k-kind of keep attracting attention from people wh-who know me..."

Just say 'Call me Mia.' Mia nods. "... A-and my pronouns..."

Silci comes over to perch next to her. "Beaauu~"

Mia smiles at her, nodding. "O-okay. H-happier thoughts. Hmmm..."

"I'll need to go clothes shopping... I sh-should look for some cute accessories."

From her lap, Purri lifts her head. "Purr?"

"Oh! R-right!" Mia looks to Anne. "How old do you need to b-be to get your ears pierced?"

Well Anne did tell her she should lean into the things she wants... And there is a whole lot of pent up want there, it seems.

<Pose Tracker> Anne Aomori has posed.

"That'll happen," Anne says. "But I think those people will be more concerned by what you're doing than how you present yourself. They might say 'okay, Mia, but stop stealing!'"

"Something like that."

Happier thoughts indeed. "I can take you shopping," Anne offers. "I don't know what the kids are into these days but I bet you can figure that part out. There's a lot of cute accesories out there."

Then, a smile. "We can arrange that. You're old enough."

They're not exactly huge, avaricious desires... But it's a good start.

<Pose Tracker> Damian Tamaoka has posed.

'Okay, Mia, but stop stealing!' Mia actually raises a hand to her mouth to cover up a small giggling fit, which soon turns into a small laugh. "O-oh... I dunno wh-why I'm laughing, b-but..." She lowers her hand again to pet at Purri's back, looking down to her oldest pokemon friend. "C-can you imagine, Purri? E-everyone mad at me, b-but using the right n-name and pronouns?"

"Purrloin!" says Purri encouragingly.

"Ooohhh... I p-proooobably spend a l-lot of time l-looking at outfit ideas..." Anne might have seen a bunch of them when she showed her the sketchbook.

They can arrange the ear piercings. Mia gives an excited clap, then pauses. "... Then that m-means I'll need some earrings..."

Give it time. She's got a lifetime of holding herself back to overcome.